WTA Roundup: Venus Williams Wins Three-Setter in England

Venus Williams of United States plays a forehand against Camila Giorgi of Italy in the Women's First Round match during Day Three of the Rothesay Classic Birmingham at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, England, on June 19, 2023, on June 19, 2023. (Stephen Pond/Getty Images for LTA)

Venus Williams defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi 7–6 (5), 4–6, 7–6 (6) in a first-round match that lasted more than three hours in the Rothesay Classic in Great Britain on Monday, June 19.

Williams, 43, recorded her first win over a top-50 opponent in four years after getting bounced in the first round last week at the Netherlands. Williams is currently ranked No. 697 in the world.

Third-seeded Magda Linette of Poland had to rally to defeat Italian Jasmine Paolini in three sets. Fifth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina and No. 6 Bernarda Pera advanced in straight sets.

Linda Fruhirtova needed just 52 minutes to advance and Caty McNally won in straight sets.

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Caroline Garcia rolled while No. 7 Petra Kvitova was upended in the first round at Berlin, Germany.

Garcia defeated Sabine Lisicki of Germany 7–6 (2), 6–3 to advance on the grass of the WTA 500 event. Meanwhile, Kvitova was upset by countrywoman Karolina Pliskova 6–3, 6–4 in the all-Czech meeting.

Donna Vekic also advanced with a 6–3, 6–2 win over Russian Varvara Gracheva.