Madrid, May 2 (IANS) World No.16 Venus Williams and No.31 Victoria Azarenka are the two star tennis players clashing in the first round of the Madrid Masters.

Venus’ sister and World No.1 Serena Williams will start the tournament against compatriot No.36 Madison Brengle while reigning champion Maria Sharapova will play her first game against Swiss World No.21 Timea Bacsinszky, reports Efe.

On the opposite side of the draw, World No.2 Romanian Simona Halep will start against French Alize Cornet while No.4, Czech Petra Kvitova, will face a qualifier.

Denmark’s World No.5 Caroline Wozniaki will face Australian Jarmila Gajdosova and Ana Ivanovic, No.7, will play Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.

Spaniard Carla Suarez, World No.10, will face Kazakhstani Zarina Diyas.