'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands: Venus Williams, playing her first match since early January, went down 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to Celine Naef in the first round in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

With sister Serena — who retired last year — in the crowd, Venus Williams, who turns 43 on Saturday, started strongly, but she faded as Naef, a 17-year-old Swiss ranked 202 in the world, took her first tour victory in two hours, 18 minutes.

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