Serena Williams of the United States signs her autographs for fans after defeating Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain at their first round of China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Stadium in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. AP
BEIJING — US Open Champions Serena Williams and Marin Cilic powered through their openers at the $5.4 million China Open Monday, with the women’s number one crushing her opponent after being 5-0 down.
Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa looked to be cruising to a memorable victory against the power-hitting American in Beijing as she raced to a five-game advantage within twenty minutes.
But Williams’ response was ruthless, taking seven consecutive games to clinch the set with an incredible show of force.
A startled Soler-Espinosa took two games in the following set, but the number one seed in Beijing closed in on victory within 73 minutes with a 7-5, 6-2 scoreline.
It was a devastating comeback and a clear statement of intent from Williams, who fell at the first hurdle at the Wuhan Open last week after retiring from her game with a viral illness.
The reigning champion in Beijing won her sixth US Open earlier this month, the 18th Grand Slam title of her career.
Elsewhere in Beijing, seeds Lucie Safarova and Ana Ivanovic made it through their first-round matches.
Serb Ivanovic, a former world number one, defeated Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.
The ninth seed in Beijing will play another Swiss player, Romina Oprandi, in the second round.
Thirteenth seed Czech player Safarova beat Italian Camila Giorgi 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 in her opening match.
Croatia’s Marin Cilic returns a shot to China’s Yan Bai during their first round of China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Stadium in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. AP
In the men’s competition fourth seed Cilic did not drop a serve in his defeat of Chinese wildcard Yan Bai at the Olympic Park in the Chinese capital.
The Croatian, playing his first game since his convincing 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in New York, took 81 minutes to dispose of his opponent 6-3, 6-4.
The 26-year-old, who was a runner-up in Beijing in 2009 and 2011, is chasing points as he pushes to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals in November.
The current world number nine is currently in fifth position in the race for the London tournament and must remain in the top eight if he is to make the season finale for the first time.
Only five berths are available as the world’s top three players — Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — have already confirmed their place for London.
The China Open will reach its climax on October 5.
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