Sharapova starts year with win over Venus Williams

The Russian tennis star, who missed much of the 2009 tour as she came back from a shoulder injury, had the best of the pivotal points to secure a 6-3, 6-4 win.

"It's good to be back. I'm glad to play against Venus in my first match of the year," said the 22-year-old winner of the 2008 Australian Open, 2006 U.S. Open and 2004 Wimbledon.

The two former world number ones played for 1 hour 34 minutes under a blazing sun, with the American looking rusty after the winter break.

"I was slow in my first match of the season," Williams was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "It's good to be here hitting the ball."