Serena swings into action
This was quite a return for Serena Williams. Almost as if she never left.
In her first match at the Australian Open since winning the 2017 title while pregnant — and her first official match anywhere since a loss in the chaotic US Open final last September — Williams looked to be at her dominant best, overpowering Tatjana Maria 6-0 6-2 in the first round yesterday.
‘‘I kind of like to jump in the deep end and swim,’’ Williams said after the 49-minute workout, ‘‘and see what happens.’’
She hadn’t dipped her toe in grand slam waters since New York, where everything devolved after Williams was warned for getting coaching, then docked a point for breaking a racket and eventually docked a game for calling the chair umpire ‘‘a thief’’ during the final.
Williams is pursuing an eighth title in Melbourne and 24th slam trophy overall, which would equal Margaret Court — whose career spanned the amateur and professional eras — for the most in tennis history.
‘‘I have been going for the record [for] what seems like forever now,’’ the 37-year-old Williams said, ‘‘so it doesn’t feel any different.’’
Williams needed all of 18 minutes to wrap up the first set, ceding just five of 29 points along the way.
The American, a former No 1 who is seeded 16th on account of playing only 24 matches in 2018, never faced a single break point and compiled a 22-7 edge in winners.
Other seeded winners yesterday included No 7 Karolina Pliskova, No 12 Elise Mertens, No 13 Anastasija Sevastova and No 17 Madison Keys among the women, plus No 4 Alexander Zverev, No 8 Kei Nishikori, No 11 Borna Coric and No 12 Fabio Fognini among the men.
Both Nishikori, who had dropped the opening two sets against qualifier Kamil Majchrzak, and Fognini advanced when their opponents retired mid-match.