Unseeded Serena takes down 1st foe
PARIS — For all that has changed in the 16 months since Serena Williams last played in a Grand Slam tournament — she is now married and a mother — so much was familiar about her at the French Open on Tuesday.
There was the fashion statement — this time in the form of a black bodysuit with a red belt — the big serves that provided 13 aces and the returns that eventually produced three consecutive breaks of serve.
And there was the victory. Competing as a mother for the first time at a major, nearly nine months since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, and then dealing with postpartum complications, Williams edged 70th-ranked Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (4), 6-4 at Roland Garros.
“I’m definitely here to compete and do the best that I can, (but) I’m not putting any pressure on myself as I normally do,” Williams said.
The 36-year-old American had not played in one of tennis’ biggest tourna- ments since winning the Australian Open in January 2017 for her 23rd Grand Slam title, breaking a tie with Steffi Graf for the most in the professional era.
Williams, who has spent hundreds of weeks ranked No. 1, is currently No. 451 and unseeded at the French Open. She faces 17thseeded Ash Barty of Australia next.
“She’s a genuine champion,” Barty said. “What she’s done to be able to get back is a pretty amazing thing.”
Williams appeared to have trouble reading Pliskova’s serves early on. There were other blips of the sort to be expected from someone who hasn’t played lately — Williams double-faulted seven times and made 25 unforced errors.
But she is not simply skilled. She is smart too and figured things out.
Other Day 3 results included Rafael Nadal finishing off a rain-interrupted victory, Maria Sharapova, a two-time champ in Paris, being pushed to three sets in a win and 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza beating another past champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.