TOUCH OF CLASS AS SERENA DASHES AUSSIE’S HOPES
FOUR points in, the upset was on.
Australia’s Daria Gavrilova, on the comeback from a series of footrelated setbacks, had the great Serena Williams facing multiple break points in the opening game.
Williams fought back to deuce but still had to stave off a third break
point before making it out of her service game. That promising start from Gavrilova was soon a distant memory.
Williams dropped just one game on the way to a one-set lead and eventually secured a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 passage into round three of the Yarra Valley Classic last night.
She hammered consecutive
forehand winners to complete the win in 94 minutes at Melbourne Park.
“It feels good to be back here,” Williams said on court post-match.
“It feels different being here but not playing in the Australian Open yet, but it’s good because all of us players need to get out here and play and get some matches.
“I felt I was definitely composed and in the zone, I guess, and just trying to do the things I’m working on, so it was good.”
At age 39, Williams remains one title short of Margaret Court’s grand slam record of 24 and without a major championship since the 2017 Australian Open.
However, the world No.11’s semifinal
run at last year’s US Open was a none-too-subtle reminder she is still a force at this level.
The rust on Monday was understandable in what was Williams’ first official match of the season.
For Gavrilova, there was enough to suggest her ranking of 451 will be back in double digits at some point.