Venus Williams advances in Advanta

VILLANOVA, Pa., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Venus Williams beat fellow American Lisa Raymond, 6-2, 6-1, Tuesday at the Advanta Championships.

In other first-round matches, Nadia Petrova beat Tatiana Panova, 6-2, 6-0; Meghann Shaughnessy defeated Kelly McCain, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, Jelena Kostanic beat Anne Kremer, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5; and Jelena Jankovic defeated Maria Vento-Kabchi, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.