Venus Avenges Wimbledon Loss to Sprem at WTA Zurich

"You can't compare this match to Wimbledon," Williams said. "That was such a long time ago. I don't think she played as well today, and I played much, much better. I wanted to show her that she shouldn't get used to expecting that kind of result from me."

The win was a big one for the eldest Williams sister, who has lost much of her top-player aura this year after being sidelined by injuries, dropping out of the Top 10 and seemingly losing her intensity. Williams has not won a title in her last eight events.

In total all four seeds advanced Tuesday in (7) Venus, (8) Nadia Petrova (d. (WC) Raymond), (9) Ai Sugiyama (d. Japanese countrywoman (Q) Asagoe), and (10) Patty "Handshake" Schnyder (d. Maleeva in three).

"I've played in Zurich many times, but I've never done well," Sugiyama said. "I hope this time will be different."

Two un-seeds also worked their way into the second round in Argentina's Paola Suarez (d. (LL) Kostanic in three) and Italian lucky loser Flavia "Of the Day" Pennetta (d. (Q) Mikaelian).

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo pulled from the event Tuesday with an ongoing thigh injury, leaving only three of the Top 10 players competing at the WTA's Tier I event.

On tap for Wednesday are Bovina vs. Schiavone, Ivanovic vs. Golovin, (6) Zvonareva vs. Molik, Hantuchova vs. (4) Sharapova, and (9) Sugiyama vs. Pennetta.