3-time champ Venus Williams wins opening match at Miami Open

Posted March 21, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Venus Williams tosses the ball to serve to Dalila Jakupovic, of Slovenia, at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Three-time tournament champion Venus Williams won her opening match Thursday at the new site of the Miami Open by beating Dalila Jakupovic 7-5, 6-3.

Williams, making her 20th appearance in the tournament, won the title in 1998, 1999 and 2001 when the event was played on Key Biscayne. It moved this year to the Miami Dolphins' complex, and Williams played in the stadium.

Cori Gauff, a 15-year-old wild card from Delray Beach, Florida, became the youngest player since 2009 to win a WTA Tour match when she beat Catherine McNally 6-3, 6-4.

Whitney Osuigwe, a 16-year-old qualifier from Bradenton, Florida, also earned her first WTA Tour victory. She beat Mari Osaka, 6-2, 6-4. Osaka is the sister of 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.

No. 3-seeded Petra Kvitova won her opening match by beating Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4.

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Venus Williams returns to Dalila Jakupovic, of Slovenia, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Whitney Osuigwe serves to Mari Osaka, of Japan, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Mari Osaka, of Japan, returns to Whitney Osuigwe during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

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