Venus Williams Upsets Flipkens In US Open First Round
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Venus Williams earned one of her biggest wins since she pulled out of the US Open two years ago because of illness, upsetting 12th-seeded Kirsten Flipkens in the first round Monday.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion won 6-1, 6-2 to improve to 15-0 in first-round matches at Flushing Meadows. But with her ranking down to No. 60, she had to open against the Wimbledon semifinalist.
In 2011, Williams withdrew before her second-round match because of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. She was playing just her third event since a first-round loss at the French Open.
PHOTOS: US Open Day 1
Flipkens had been enjoying a career year. The Belgian had never reached the round of 16 at a major tournament before the Australian Open, then made her run at Wimbledon.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
