Venus wins after four-month layoff

MEMPHIS, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Venus Williams returned Monday after a four month layoff with a three-set win over Japan's Akiko Morigami in the opening of the Regions-Cellular South Cup.

Williams, who had been sidelined with a wrist injury and hadn't played at a tournament since appearing in Luxembourg last October, scored a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory.

Next up for the seventh-seeded Williams on Tuesday will be Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark who beat Stephanie Foretz, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Third seed Marion Bartoli of France was upset Monday by American Laura Granville, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0.

Also Monday, fifth seed Nicole Pratt of Australia beat American Lilia Osterloh, 6-3, 6-0, and sixth-seeded American Shenay Perry dropped the first set before fighting back to beat Frenchwoman Youlia Fedossova 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-5.