MELBOURNE, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Venus Williams, who made her long awaited return on Tuesday, plays former junior No. 1 Vera Douchevina of Russia in the second round of the Australian Open.
Williams, the women's third seed, thrashed of fellow American Ashley Harkleroad in her first match despite twisting her ankle in the first set..
No. 2 seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium meets Maria Elena Camerin of Italy. Clijsters is playing despite feeling the effects of a left ankle injury sustained two weeks ago at the Hopman Cup.
Also on the schedule among the women's seed are Anastasia Myskina, Ai Sugiyama, Chanda Rubin, Paola Suarez, Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, and Francesca Schiavone.
On the men's side, No. 2 seed Roger Federer of Switzerland plays his second straight qualifier in American Jeff Morrison. Federer made his season debut Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 rout of Alex Bogomolov Jr.
Third seed and French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain also is on the schedule, as are David Nalbandian, Tim Henman, Mark Philippoussis, and Lleyton Hewitt.
