Venus Williams beat Russian qualifier Alina Zhidkova 6-4 6-4 in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. The seventh seed, playing her first match since the US Open last month, will now meet Russian wildcard Vera Douchevina in the next round.
Earlier fifth seed Elena Dementieva, runner-up in the French and US Opens, eased past Patty Schnyder 6-2 6-3.
She was one of four top 20 Russians to progress, along with Vera Zvonareva, Nadia Petrova and Elena Bovina.
In the second round, Dementieva, who will be 23 on Friday, plays Croatian qualifier Sanda Mamic, who upset French veteran Mary Pierce 6-0 6-4.
Sixth seed Zvonareva breezed past Nathalie Dechy of France 6-0 6-2.
Eighth seed Petrova disposed of Argentina's Paola Suares 7-5 6-4 and unseeded Bovina needed just 52 minutes to beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-3.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
