V. Williams opens title defense with win

LONDON, June 23 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion Venus Williams was dominant in a first-round win Tuesday at the Wimbledon Championships in London.

Williams defeated Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 in a match in which she had 11 unforced errors and 29 winners. Williams was particularly strong on Voegele's second serve, winning 16 of 19 points in that situation.

Her second-round opponent will be Kateryna Bondarenko, who was a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) winner Tuesday over Anastasija Sevastova.

Top-seeded Dinara Safina, looking to qualify for her fourth Grand Slam final in the last six majors, defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5, 6-3 Tuesday. Safina had to overcome 30 unforced errors to make the second round.

Fifth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Safina in the 2009 French Open final, advanced at the expense of Akiko Morigami 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) and No. 6 Jelena Jankovic topped Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-6 (7-0). Seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva completed her suspended match from Monday, finishing 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 6-4 to beat Georgie Stoop while ninth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki came from behind for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win over Kimiko Date Krumm.

Other first-round winners Tuesday included 11th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who handled Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 7-5, 6-1; No. 13 Ana Ivanovic, who outlasted Lucie Hradecka 5-7, 6-2, 8-6; and 15th-seeded Flavia Pennetta, who overcame Nuria Llagostera Vives 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.