Associated Press

Stanford, July 28:

Venus Williams earned her first tournament match victory since her thrilling Wimbledon title, defeating India’s Sania Mirza 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals on Wednesday of the Bank of the West Classic. Williams rode her powerful serve for easy points against the 18-year-old Mirza. She hit three straight aces in her first service game of the second set: at 175 kph, 185 and 171, then pounded a 187 kph first serve to finish it. She hit two more aces in her next service game — both clocked at 174 kph — and a 195-kph first serve to end that game. Williams will play Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro, a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Amy Frazier. Patty Schnyder also entered the quarters beating Frnace’s Marion Bartoli 6-4, 7-5. Nathalie Dechy of France beat Lisa Raymond of the US 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Mercedes-Benz

LOS ANGELES: Xavier Malisse ended his personal losing streak against Tommy Haas, upsetting the defending champion 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Earlier, Juan Ignacio Chela, Dominik Hrbaty and Brazilian Ricardo Mello advanced to the quarters.