Williams shakes off rust for comeback victory
WORLD No 2 Serena Williams shook out any cobwebs from four months away from tennis with a 6-3 6-4 victory over France’s Pauline Parmentier in the first round of the Auckland Classic in New Zealand yesterday.
The 35-year-old had not played a competitive match since she lost to Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals of the US Open in September, withdrawing from all tennis to deal with a persistent shoulder injury.
The American had participated in a charity doubles match with her sister, Venus, against Kiwi siblings Julian and Ardie Savea before the tournament started.
Williams was appearing for the first time in Auckland and persistent rain on Monday postponed her first-round match to yesterday.
She struggled with the wind and had some rusty moments in the second set when the Frenchwoman broke in the fourth game and held three break points in the sixth.
But Williams was able to overcome them and the US star won the match with her eighth ace.
“It was my first match back in several months and I played a great player. But the wind was getting to me,” Williams said after she wrapped up the victory in 75 minutes to set up a second-round clash against qualifier Jamie Loeb or Madison Brengle.
She conceded she was feeling rusty and would be selective about her schedule in the new season.
“I don’t see myself playing a full, full schedule. But who knows? I’m going to take it tourney by tourney.”
Injury kept Williams out of much of the second half of last year, even though she still triumphed in Wimbledon to equal Steffi Graf’s open-era record of 22 grand slam titles. Her target this year was to surpass that.
“Unfortunately, I have the highest of goals, usually, so obviously that involves winning grand slams,” Williams said.
Another former world No 1, Caroline Wozniacki, dropped just one game in a ruthless 6-1 6-0 dismantling of Nicole Gibbs in their first round match. – Reuters