NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Venus Williams showed some  effects of a troublesome knee but displayed enough of her  trademark power to beat Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-1 in the opening night match of the U.S. Open yesterday.

Twice former champion Williams winced after landing on her  left leg while striking a swinging forehand volley in the first  set but the third-seeded American battled on in her first match  since Wimbledon.

“I landed on that leg on the swing volley,” Williams said  in an on-court interview, but gave credit to the 65th-ranked  Vinci for putting up a good fight and clawing back from 3-0 to  tie the first set 4-4.

“I was playing against a tough opponent today. She hits  that slice so well. She didn’t make a lot of errors … so I  was really happy to get through after not playing in forever.”

Williams, the top American in the draw since her sister and  world number one Serena Williams did not enter the championship  due to a foot injury, blasted in 10 aces under the lights on  the Arthur Ashe Stadium center court.

“It’s not the same without two Williamses,” Venus told a  crowd of nearly 24,000. “I have a lot of big shoes to fill with  just one Willliams here.”

She celebrated the opening night occasion by wearing a  short black party dress with fringe on the bottom.

“It’s my evening dress,” said Williams about her design.  “It’s so much fun wearing lace on the court.”

Williams, who made 12 unforced errors from her backhand  side, never looked entirely comfortable in the first set as  Vinci moved her around the court.

The consistent Vinci invited Williams to take chances as  the Italian made just 12 unforced errors in the match.

But five-times Wimbledon winner Williams lifted her game to  close out the first set by breaking Vinci at love in the 10th  game and finished the 74-minute match by winning the last five  games of the second set.

The 30-year-old Williams will next meet Canadian Rebecca  Marino, who beat Ksenia Pervak of Russia in her first-round  match.