Madrid Open: Serena Williams advances to 2nd round

Serena Williams. PHOTO/Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

Top-ranked Serena Williams advanced to the second round of the Madrid Open on Sunday as players applauded the tournament’s return to red clay after its trial with blue “smurf” clay flopped last year.

After dispatching Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, the defending champion echoed the sentiment, saying she liked the new courts at the Caja Magica.

“I think these clay courts are really good,” she said. “I think they’re a little bit faster than the ones I was practicing on in Paris. For me, that’s always a good sign.”

In Williams’ opening match, Putintseva broke her serve early to take a 3-1 lead in the first set. But Williams soon settled down after breaking serve and, once through the tiebreaker, dominated the second set.

“I felt a little sluggish out there, but I’m happy I was able to win the match,” Williams said. “Honestly, I obviously have to and want to play better as each match goes on.”

She next faces Lourdes Dominguez-Lino of Spain.

Serena’s sister Venus withdrew early Sunday morning before her first-round match due to back problems.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press