MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb 20: Five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams beat Japan's Akiko Morigami 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 here Monday at a WTA and ATP event in only her third match since last July due to a left wrist injury.

Seventh seed Williams made her 2007 debut by reaching the second round of the 757,000-dollar event while men's fifth seed Xavier Malisse made an exit in the first round after a right wrist injury forced a retirement from his match.

Williams, ranked 53rd, has not won a title since capturing the 2005 Wimbledon crown.

Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili advanced 4-6, 2-2 when Malisse dropped out and another Russian, Evgeny Korolev, ousted US eighth seed Robby Ginepri 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3.

Also joining the seeded scrap heap was France's number three Marion Bartoli. American Laura Granville ousted Bartoli 7-5, 4-6, 6-0.

Australian fifth seed Nicole Pratt defeated American Lilia Osterloh 6-3, 6-0 while US sixth seed Shenay Perry downed France's Youlia Fedossova 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 7-5 and US eighth seed Jill Craybas beat Ireland's Kelly Liggan 6-4, 6-4.

Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun eliminated Aussie Chris Guccione 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

Results from the Memphis International women's singles first-round matches on Monday.

Laura Granville (U.S.) beat 3-Marion Bartoli (France) 7-5 4-6 6-0

7-Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Akiko Morigami (Japan) 6-1 2-6 6-4

5-Nicole Pratt (Australia) beat Lilia Osterloh (U.S.) 6-3 6-0

Raluca Olaru (Romania) beat Lauren Albanese (U.S.) 3-6 6-4 6-3

8-Jill Craybas (U.S.) beat Kelly Liggan (Ireland) 6-4 6-4

6-Shenay Perry (U.S.) beat Youlia Fedossova (France) 6-7(4) 6-3 7-5

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Stephanie Foretz (France) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3

Bethanie Mattek (U.S.) beat Lisa Raymond (U.S.) 6-2 7-5

Abigail Spears (U.S.) beat 9-Vania King (U.S.) 4-6 6-2 7-6(0).—AFP