TOKYO, Sept 17: Serena Williams played her first match since beating sister Venus in the US Open final at the rain-hit Princess Cup on Tuesday, teaming up with Martina Navratilova to beat Conchita Martinez and Nicole Pratt 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the doubles.

Rain washed out play on all the outside courts, resulting in just two first round singles matches being played under the closed roof at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Fifth seed Ai Sugiyama thrashed Shinobu Asagoe 6-4, 6-1 in an all-Japanese affair to reach the second round, while Russian Elena Likhovtseva beat Martinez 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Tuesday’s results:

Singles first round: Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) beat Conchita Martinez (Spain) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; 5-Ai Sugiyama (Japan) beat Shinobu Asagoe (Japan) 6-4, 6-1; 6-Tatiana Panova (Russia) leads Henrieta Nagyova (Slovakia) 2-1.

Doubles first round: Martina Navratilova/Serena Williams (US) beat 3-Conchita Martinez (Spain)/Nicole Pratt (Australia) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.—Reuters/AFP