Venus Williams made a triumphant return to tennis at the Australian Open on Tuesday but the maelstrom of misery which has engulfed Britain's Greg Rusedski continued.

The ankle injury that threatened to force second seed Kim Clijsters out of the opening Grand Slam of the year came through the test with flying colours in the night session. All she had to overcome was a little rustiness to advance 6-3, 6-2 over Marlene Weingaertner.

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"I didn't really have any problems with the ankle and that's the most important thing," she said.

"For a couple of days I didn't even think I was going to be coming here as a player. So I am very pleased with the way I went out there."

While Clijsters was clearly relieved, third seed Williams was all smiles at Melbourne Park.

Despite not having played a tournament since losing the Wimbledon final to sister Serena last July, the former world number one looked as sharp as ever as she thumped fellow-American Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.

"Oh, yes, I'm back now," she giggled, before saying she was missing the absent Serena, who also beat her in the final here last year.

"It's not the same without her," she smiled, "we are like bread and butter."

British number two Rusedski had hoped to let his tennis finally do the talking after his positive test for the banned steroid nandrolone hogged all the headlines in the past two weeks.

However, a lacklustre performance against 26th seed Albert Costa saw him eliminated 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

"HEAVY FEVER"

The Canadian-born left-hander blamed his performance on illness. "It was difficult because Saturday I had a fever and have had gastroenteritis," he said.

"That's what made it difficult today; to be honest with you I had a heavy fever; it wasn't the ideal preparation."

Rusedski, who admitted earlier this month that he had tested positive for nandrolone at a tournament in Indianapolis last July, says he will be cleared of any wrongdoing at a hearing in February.

He insisted his off-court troubles had not affected him. "No, it had nothing to do with today. I've just got to wait and see how my tribunal goes, just go from there."

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer put his shaky early-season form behind him with a tidy performance against up-and-coming American Alex Bogomolov.

The Swiss second seed had looked far from convincing during the Kooyong International last week, losing to Andre Agassi and struggling against Thomas Johansson. On Tuesday everything clicked as he romped home 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.

Federer has yet to progress past the fourth round of the Australian Open in four previous visits to Melbourne. This time round the stylish Swiss is the bookmakers' favourite

"Straight sets in the first round is a good start," he said.

FREAK INJURY

World number five Guillermo Coria slipped up 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Frenchman Cyril Saulnier. The Argentine had pulled out of last week's Auckland Open with an abdominal strain.

He was later cleared to play in Melbourne but was far from his best against the world number 76.

"I had a great result at Wimbledon when I beat Xavier Malisse, but today is something else," said Saulnier.

"Days like this is why we play. I am like a wine that improves with age."

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt suffered no problems, though, strolling into round two when a freak injury forced Cecil Mamiit to pull out.

Australian Hewitt was leading 6-2, 6-4 when Mamiit ran into the umpire's chair chasing a drop shot and hurt his right ankle. He lasted only one more game before calling it quits.

Hewitt's fellow Australian and 10th seed Mark Philippoussis thrilled his home crowd with a 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 win over 2002 champion Johansson.

The Swede missed most of last year through injury and could not get to grips with the Philippoussis serve.

Third seed and French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero did not hang about, pounding fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 for a resounding victory.

He was followed through by British 11th seed Tim Henman, who ousted France's Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.