AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Venus Williams topped Andrea Hlavackova in straight sets Monday for a season-opening win at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in New Zealand.
Williams wound up with three breaks in a 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) win over Hlavackova. Two of the breaks came in the first set and the other led to the second-set tiebreaker. Williams had four aces but also seven double faults while winning 63 percent of the points on serve.