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Friday Sep 20, 2024
Wednesday, 16 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
MELBOURNE (Reuters): Serena Williams made a ruthless start to her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 6-0 6-2 victory over unseeded German Tatjana Maria in the first round of the Australian Open yesterday.
Playing her first Grand Slam since her infamous rant against the umpire at last year’s US Open final, the 37 year-old Williams seemed to have decided to move on from last September’s incident that caused an uproar across the world.
She was handed a warning by chair umpire Carlos Ramos for an on-court coaching violation before being deducted a point for smashing her racquet and later a game for a heated argument during her loss to Naomi Osaka.
Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou told Reuters last week he expects on-court coaching to continue virtually unchecked at the Grand Slams despite the hue and cry over the issue.
But Williams refused to be drawn in. “I, like, literally have no comment,” Williams, wearing a black T-shirt with the message ‘Until We All Win’ at her post-match news conference, said.
The seven-time Australian Open champion was eight weeks pregnant when she won the last of her 23 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and returned to tennis last year after the birth of her daughter in September 2017.
She has kept a low profile in Melbourne and did not appear before the media before the start of the 14-27 January tournament but was enthusiastic to talk about softer topics, like how her daughter’s black doll was named Qai Qai.
Williams showed yesterday that she has lost none of her brutal power and athleticism in the match between the two mothers at Rod Laver Arena.
She peppered the court with her heavy groundstrokes and also advanced to the net whenever she had an opportunity, losing only 24 points against Maria, and she concentrated on being consistent and cutting down on unforced errors.
Williams finished the match in just 49 minutes on her second match point when Maria, who is also her neighbour, sent a backhand wide. The American will next play Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who beat Peng Shuai of China 6-2 6-1.
