Venus Williams defeated by Kirsten Flipkens in comeback match

Venus Williams has suffered defeat in her comeback match at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, going down in three sets to Wimbledon semi-finalist Kirsten Flipkens in the first round.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who pulled out of the SW19 major in June with a back problem, had not played since her shock elimination in the opening stage of May's French Open.

Williams won the first set without dropping a game, but Flipkens recovered from that 6-0 drubbing to level the match by edging the second 6-4.

Fatigued then looked to be hampering Williams in the decider as her Belgian opponent raced into a 5-0 advantage, and despite the American threatening a comeback, Flipkens comfortably held on to claim victory in just under two hours.

The 13th seed will face Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens in the next round.