Venus Williams Comes Back to Win at U.S. Open

NEW YORK – Venus Williams has overcome a bad knee and a big deficit to win her first-round match at the U.S. Open.

The No. 3-seeded Williams, twice the champion at Flushing Meadows, was down a set and a break before coming back to beat 47th-ranked Vera Dushevina of Russia 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 Monday night.

Williams' left knee was wrapped by a trainer after the third game. The American also had plenty of trouble serving: She piled up 10 double-faults and was called for seven foot-faults.

Dushevina broke for a 3-1 lead in the second set and later was a game from winning at 5-4 in that set. But Williams — who never has lost in the U.S. Open's first round — won the next seven games.