MIAMI, March 21 (UPI) -- Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters returned from illness and injury-related absences Wednesday to record first-round victories at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Williams, who hadn't played in seven months as she battled the effects of Sjogren's syndrome, re-emerged in Miami and dispatched 41-year-old Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm, 6-0, 6-3.
The former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam titlist suffers from fatigue and joint pain due to the incurable autoimmune disease.
Three-time Miami winner Williams now goes on to face Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova in Friday's second round.
Clijsters, meanwhile, saw her first action since January while recuperating from some nagging injuries. She came from behind to defeat Australian Jarmila Gajdosova, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.
Clijsters, who won the Miami event in 2005 and 2010, advanced to face 14th-seeded German Julia Goerges.
Also notching victories Wednesday were Israeli Shahar Peer, who moves on to face former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova in the second round, and Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, who will take on Caroline Wozniacki.
