*(CNN) — Venus Williams won her first tour-level singles match in a year and a half on Monday, defeating fellow American Katie Volynets 7-6(4) 6-2 in the opening round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 42-year-old Williams, who won the ASB Classic in 2015 and gained a wild card entry for this year’s tournament, came back from a breakdown in the first set against Volynets to set up a meeting with China’s Lin Zhu in the next round.

In a close first set, Volynets was serving to take an early lead in the match at 5-4, but Williams hit back by breaking her opponent to love before going on to take the tiebreak.

Source: Venus Williams WINS Her First Singles Match Since 2021 | WATCH