Venus gets off to positive start

Williams is battling to secure a place at the Tour Championships

Venus Williams, fighting to qualify for the season-ending WTA Championships, ousted Lisa Raymond in the first round of the Advanta Championships.

Fifth seed Williams saw off her fellow American 6-2 6-1 to set up a second-round match against 87th-ranked Yuliana Fedak of Ukraine.

Williams will probably need to make Sunday's final to reach next week's showdown of the top eight WTA players.

Williams could face top seed Amelie Mauresmo of France in the quarters.

"It's a strange situation for me not to qualify but I'm focusing on this week first and really want to end my season on a good note," said Williams.

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"Lisa is a very good player and can play very well against me. I wanted control early in the match and I was able to do that."

Mauresmo is due to face 38th-ranked Czech Iveta Benesova.

Two berths in the Tour Championships are at stake, with one almost certain to go to Williams' sister Serena who is skipping the Advanta event.

Fourth seed Jennifer Capriati and Russian sixth seed Vera Zvonareva - who could meet in the quarter-finals - are the other contenders for a berth in the concluding event next week in Los Angeles.

Jelena Kostanic of Croatia outlasted lucky loser Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 6-4 2-6 7-5 to set up a match with third seed Maria Sharapova of Russia.