By Jilawatan

Three-set matches have apparently become the norm for Venus Williams at the Family Circle Cup.

The 2004 champion lost in three sets in the semifinals of the 2007 Family Circle Cup, her last appearance in Charleston.

And Wednesday, Williams had to go three sets again before downing Sania Mirza in a second-round match. Mirza is ranked No. 100 in the world, while Williams is fifth.

Scenes from Family Circle Cup on Wednesday on Daniel Island.

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“It’s always fun out there,” Williams said. “These kind of matches are great to pull out. It was a great opening round. I’m ready for the next one.”

Williams got off to a quick 3-0 start in the first set. Then after Mirza won the fourth game, Williams took the next three games to handily win the first set, apparently on her way to an easy victory.

The second set mirrored the first, with Williams going ahead 3-1. But Mirza caught fire and won the next five games to send the match into a decisive third set. The third set was deadlocked, 2-2, before Williams finally got on track and closed out the match.

“Just focus on my shots,” Williams said of what she did to turn things around in the third set. “I have a lot of experience, so I rely on that, too. I’ve been in these situations before, so I rely on that, that I have done that and come through.”

Williams said she was disappointed momentarily when was broken the first two times she served in the third set, but she would try to prevent that in her next match, today at 1:30 p.m. against Sabine Lisicki.

Williams said Mirza has a lot of talent and power and uses that to her advantage.

“I think when she’s playing against me, she’s gotta go for it,” Williams said. “I think there’s a sense of nothing to lose, because when you look at the number and the rankings and the statistics, I’m supposed to win this match. So I think that gives her an opportunity to swing freely.”

When Williams won the 2004 Family Circle Cup, she beat two-time winner Conchita Martinez. Williams said she looks forward to this tournament and continuing to build her resume.

“I love playing in the U.S., and like I said the other day, this is a bright spot on the calendar, for me to be able to play at home and in the States and go for a title here. So it’s very exciting,” she said.

“I love what I do, and while I’m here and while I have the opportunity and the strength and the blessings, I want to give 100 percent. I could never hang it up knowing that I have a ton left in me, so I’m going to go for it until it’s over.”