Venus powers into second round

STUTTGART.

Venus Williams was cool as ice in needing just over an hour to see off German Anna-Lena Groenefeld and reach the second round at the WTA event on Tuesday.

Williams, ranked eighth in the world, was always in control and kept her 23-year-old opponent pinned to the baseline for large chunks of the game as she strolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win.

But as the Wimbledon champion limped into the post-match press conference with her left knee strapped and ice on her right elbow, she looked far less comfortable before insisting it was just part of her post-game recovery.

"It's normal to ice right after the game, I am just being a good girl and making sure my recovery is okay," she insisted. "She made me work for the win."