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NEW YORK (AP) - Venus Williams earned one of her biggest wins since she pulled out of the U.S. Open two years ago because of illness, upsetting 12th-seeded Kirsten Flipkens in the first round Monday.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion won 6-1, 6-2 to improve to 15-0 in first-round matches at Flushing Meadows. But with her ranking down to No. 60, she had to open against the Wimbledon semifinalist.
In 2011, Williams withdrew before her second-round match because of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. She was playing just her third event since a first-round loss at the French Open.
Flipkens had been enjoying a career year. The Belgian had never reached the round of 16 at a major tournament before the Australian Open, then made her run at Wimbledon.
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