Australian Open 2016: Serena Williams starts her title defense with win

WTA no. 1., Serena Williams opened her title defense with a straight-set win at the Australian Open.

The most dominant female player in tennis entered the season’s first major, with Williams having to overcome a left knee problem that limited her court time.

Williams defeated Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5.

Williams withdrew from the Hopman Cup because of inflammation in her knee, playing just one set in Perth.

Yet she dropped just one service game against No. 34-ranked Giorgi, who struggled with 12 double-faults, including one on the decisive break point in the 11th game of the second set. She fired 2 aces and a service winner in the last game.

“I haven’t played a competitive match in a really long time, but I think it was really good for me to come out here,” Williams said. “I was able to stay in it and stay calm today and I think that’s what matters most.”

Williams said she needed the break to recharge at the end of last season and felt OK about her limited preparation.

“I haven’t played in a long time, but I have been playing for 30 years, so it’s kind of – I try to focus on that,” she said.

No. 24 Sloane Stephens, who beat Serena Williams in the 2013 Australian Open quarterfinals, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang, while No. 26 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No. 27 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova also went out in the first round.

Source: Associated Press