Venus and Clijsters Victorious at Sony Ericsson Open

American Venus Williams won in her first singles match since August, a 6-0, 6-3 win over Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan in round one action at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Venus has not played an official match since the U.S. Open first round in September 2011, a 6-4, 6-3 win over Czech Vesna Dolonts. She withdrew from her second round match against Sabine Lisicki at the Open, citing weakness due to the auto-immune disease known as Sjogren’s Syndrome.

“Just being in this tournament is a huge win for me,” said Williams. “That’s what I told myself. This is a win. I have nothing to lose."

“Just being in this tournament is a huge win for me,” said Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam champion. “That’s what I told myself. This is a win. I have nothing to lose."

Currently ranked 134th in the world, Venus advances to face the number three seeded Czech Petra Kvitova in round two.

Also on the women’s side of the draw, the unseeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium was a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 victor over Australian Jarmila Gajdosova. Clijsters’ match was her first since she sustained a left ankle injury at the 2012 Australian Open. She lost in three sets to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka in the Australian Open semis.

“It’s definitely a lot better,” said Clijsters of her ankle. “I’ve been working to try to make it strong and feel comfortable moving wise.”

The two-time Sony Ericsson Open champion Clijsters advances to play number 14 Julia Goerges of Germany.

One men’s side of the draw on day one of action in Miami, Russian Nikolay Davydenko was a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over American James Blake to advance to round two where he will face another American, 2012 BNP Paribas Open finalist John Isner of the U.S. Santiago Giraldo of Colombia defeated Spain’s Pablo Andujar, 6-3, 6-2, setting up a round two encounter with world number two-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain. Another Colombian, Alejandro Falla, will face world number four-ranked Andy Murray of Great Britain in the second round after Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin was forced to retire.

Click here to view the results of Day One action at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open.