Venus Williams scored a straight sets upset of 16th seed Veroninka Kudermetova at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open on Monday, bagging her first win over a top 20 player in four years.

The 43-year-old American veteran, who was granted a wild card into this week's tournament, rallied superbly to polish off Kudermetova 6-4, 7-5.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, whose career has spanned four different decades, showed great heart to recover from 4-1 down in the opening set before overturning a 5-1 deficit in the second to seal victory.

"I love this game, it's what I do," Williams said in on-court remarks after her victory against the Russian world number 14.

"The last few years have been difficult in terms of injuries," Williams added.&nbsp;

"I want to be able to be out here and be strong, and be myself and that's important to me, and I'm trying to get there."

Williams, a semi-finalist at Cincinnati in 2012, saw her match interrupted by rain before she completed her victory.&nbsp;

In other women's matches on Monday, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens marked her 12th appearance with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Italian Elisabetta&nbsp;Cocciaretto.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-test-series-loss-in-sa-to-disappointment-in-wi-t20is-team-indias-shocking-lows-in-rahul-dravids-tenure-625379">From colossal failure in SA to WI T20I series loss: Team India's shocking LOWS in Rahul Dravid's tenure</a>

"This (summer) series so far has been tough. D.C., there was rain. Last week, Montreal was rain. This week again, rain," Stephens said.

In the men's draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime won a battle of injury comeback competitors, keeping former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini winless on the Tour since March with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Auger-Aliassime, seeded 12th, missed his home Masters last week in Toronto with his injury recovery not&nbsp;yet complete.

Victory snapped a five-match loss streak stretching to the week before Roland Garros in May.

Finn Emil Ruusuvuori beat Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-2.&nbsp;

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will open on Wednesday after a bye against Jordan Thompson, who put out 2013 finalist John Isner 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2).&nbsp;

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Venus Williams scored a straight sets upset of 16th seed Veroninka Kudermetova at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open on Monday, bagging her first win over a top 20 player in four years.

Venus Williams scored a straight sets upset of 16th seed Veroninka Kudermetova at the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open on Monday, bagging her first win over a top 20 player in four years. The 43-year-old American veteran, who was granted a wild card into this week's tournament, rallied superbly to polish off Kudermetova 6-4, 7-5. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, whose career has spanned four different decades, showed great heart to recover from 4-1 down in the opening set before overturning a 5-1 deficit in the second to seal victory. "I love this game, it's what I do," Williams said in on-court remarks after her victory against the Russian world number 14. "The last few years have been difficult in terms of injuries," Williams added. "I want to be able to be out here and be strong, and be myself and that's important to me, and I'm trying to get there." Williams, a semi-finalist at Cincinnati in 2012, saw her match interrupted by rain before she completed her victory. In other women's matches on Monday, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens marked her 12th appearance with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. ALSO READ | From colossal failure in SA to WI T20I series loss: Team India's shocking LOWS in Rahul Dravid's tenure "This (summer) series so far has been tough. D.C., there was rain. Last week, Montreal was rain. This week again, rain," Stephens said. In the men's draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime won a battle of injury comeback competitors, keeping former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini winless on the Tour since March with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory. Auger-Aliassime, seeded 12th, missed his home Masters last week in Toronto with his injury recovery not yet complete. Victory snapped a five-match loss streak stretching to the week before Roland Garros in May. Finn Emil Ruusuvuori beat Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-2. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will open on Wednesday after a bye against Jordan Thompson, who put out 2013 finalist John Isner 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2). WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tennis: Venus Williams upsets 16th seed Veroninka Kudermetova in Cincinnati Open

6 most controversial Wimbledon outfits

Serena Williams beat her sister Venus 6-4 6-4 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her 23rd Grand Slam singles title and become the most successful tennis player in the open era.

The 35-year-old American&#39;s victory gave her a seventh Melbourne Park crown and sent her clear of Germany&#39;s Steffi Graf at the top of the list of most prolific grand slam winners since the game turned professional in 1968.

The second seed overcame a stuttering serve to take a topsy-turvy opening set and one break of 36-year-old Venus&#39;s serve proved enough to claim the second after 82 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The victory ensured Serena, who hit 10 aces and 27 winners, would regain the world number one ranking from Germany&#39;s Angelique Kerber on Monday.

(Reuters)

Serena Williams beat her sister Venus in straight sets at the Australian Open final

Serena Williams beat her sister Venus 6-4 6-4 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her 23rd Grand Slam singles title and become the most successful tennis player in the open era. The 35-year-old American's victory gave her a seventh Melbourne Park crown and sent her clear of Germany's Steffi Graf at the top of the list of most prolific grand slam winners since the game turned professional in 1968. The second seed overcame a stuttering serve to take a topsy-turvy opening set and one break of 36-year-old Venus's serve proved enough to claim the second after 82 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. The victory ensured Serena, who hit 10 aces and 27 winners, would regain the world number one ranking from Germany's Angelique Kerber on Monday. (Reuters)

Serena Williams beats Venus to win Australian Open

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Tennis: Venus Williams upsets 16th seed Veroninka Kudermetova in Cincinnati Open

6 most controversial Wimbledon outfits

Serena Williams beats Venus to win Australian Open