DUBAI, March 1: Injury-hampered Venus Williams made a first-round exit at the Dubai Open on Monday, going out 7-5 7-6 to Italian Silvia Farina Elia.

After more than two hours of tennis that only the most devoted of fans could enjoy, the fifth seeded American capitulated more to a stomach injury and blisters on her racket hand than to her opponent.

Williams blamed the stomach injury she sustained the week before last at her previous tournament - the Antwerp Diamond Games where she lost in the final to Amelie Mauresmo.

In another match, Indian teenager Sania Mirza came from a set down to beat Croatia's Jelena Kostanic 6-7 6-4 6-1 and set up a meeting with fourth seed and U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

RESULTS: Conchita Martinez bt Shinobu Asagoe 6-3 6-4; Sania Mirza bt Jelena Kostanic 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-1; Jelena Jankovic bt Paola Suarez 6-3 6-1; Silvia Farina Elia bt Venus Williams 7-5 7-6 (8-6); Patty Schnyder bt Magdalena Maleeva 7-6 (7-1) 6-2. -Reuters