Venus off to a flier

Reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams shrugged off a rain delay to advance to the second round of the Bangkok Open on Thursday with an easy 6-2, 6-2 win over Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki.
Williams, the tournament's second seed, had been leading 6-2, 4-1 when rain forced a suspension in play late Wednesday, and did not need much time to seal the deal, using her powerful forehand to finish off the Dane.
It was the American's second win over Wozniacki in a week, on the heels of a semi-final triumph at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old Williams, a six-time Grand Slam winner, was battling local favourite Tamarine Tanasugarn late Thursday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Thai veteran has never beaten the Californian in five encounters, with Williams easily winning their last meeting in Seoul two weeks ago, 6-2, 6-1.
In other action on Thursday, fourth seed Virginie Razzano of France -- who upset Williams to win in Tokyo last weekend -- was herself upset by Polish teen Urszula Radwanska, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
The loss snapped Razzano's 11-match winning streak.
Radwanska, this year's Wimbledon girls' singles winner, will next face either Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan or Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak.
Third seed Shahar Peer of Israel recovered from a shaky first round performance to dismantle Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Peer, the world number 16, will face seventh seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy.
China's Yan Zi, who escaped the first round when top-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic retired on Wednesday, bounced back from one set down to defeat Russia's Olga Poutchkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Yan will next face either defending champion Vania King of the United States or fifth seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.