Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams defeated Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati to record her first victory over a Top 20 player in four years.
With her red lipstick on, Williams rallied from 4-1 down in the first set and 5-1 in the second set to beat the world No.16 Kudermetova in their first career meeting. Kudermetova served twice for the second set and had two set points to level the match at one set apiece, but Williams came out on top and recorded a victory at a US tournament for the first time in more than three years.