V. Williams successful in return

EASTBOURNE, England, June 13 (UPI) -- Venus Williams marked her return to competitive tennis with a three-set victory Monday at the Aegon International tournament in England.

Williams hadn't played since the third round of the Australia Open, when she retired with a hip injury, allowing Andrea Petkovic to advance. Petkovic, coincidentally, was Williams' opponent Monday, with Williams taking a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 decision in more than 2 1/2 hours.

Williams didn't show the telltale signs of a lengthy time off as she landed 67 percent of her first serves and had four aces against three double faults. She won, however, just six more points (105-99) than the eighth-seeded Petkovic, with five points of that advantage coming in the third set.

No. 3-seeded Victoria Azarenka got past Peng Shuai 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in about 2 hours while fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova rallied for a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 win over Anastasija Sevastova and Samantha Stosur, seeded seventh, topped Nadia Petrova 6-1 6-4.

Also Monday, Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Jarmila Gajdosova 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez was a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Shahar Peer.