Venus Williams Returns Today In Miami; Kleybanova Gets First Win After Cancer Battle

Venus Williams is schedule to make her return to tennis this afternoon in Miami. The former No. 1 hasn’t played tennis since the US Open when she revealed she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome.

After months of rehab and recover, Venus, 31, will play another elder stateswoman, 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm, in the first round.

Venus, a 3-time Miami champion, beat Date-Krumm in their only career meeting 8-6 in third last year at Wimbledon.

“Prepping for tomorrow’s match, have a good night everyone, thanks for chewing me on tomorrow!” Venus tweeted yesterday.

Another former No. 1, Kim Clijsters, is also returning today from injury. She’ll meet Jarmilla Gajdasova.

Yesterday, Alisa Kleybanova made a winning return from her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma on Tuesday, rallying to win her first rounder 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Johanna Larsson.

“I was a little bit out of control in the first set,” Kleybanova said. “The first match back from anything is always difficult, but especially this time I really had no idea how it was going to be out there. Tennis-wise I felt pretty good from the beginning but Johanna has a difficult game to play against, she makes you run a lot out there – she makes you tired even if you’re in your best shape.

“But I’m looking at my matches differently now. It’s my work, but I really just wanted to enjoy every point and every moment. Even when I lost the first set I wanted to stay positive and just enjoy myself out there, and that’s why I was able to stay out there and change the way the match was going.”

Men’s first round action begins today with James Blake and Nikolay Davydenko in a battle of former Top 5 players. David Nalbandian is also scheduled along with Fernando Gonzalez who meet Nicolas Mahut is what is the Chilean’s final ATP event.

Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer and scheduled to open play Saturday while Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will tentatively debut Friday.

STADIUM Start 11:00 am
Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) v Kim Clijsters (BEL)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v James Blake (USA)
[WC] Venus Williams (USA) v Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN)
David Nalbandian (ARG) v Steve Darcis (BEL)

Starting at 7:30 PM
Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v [WC] Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) v Christina Mchale (USA)