'Vintage' Serena impresses in Australian Open romp | Inquirer Sports

‘Vintage’ Serena impresses in Australian Open romp

/ 12:08 PM February 08, 2021

Serena Williams

FILE PHOTO: Tennis – Yarra Valley Classic – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 5, 2021 Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her quarter final match against Danielle Rose Collins of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

An aggressive Serena Williams started her quest Monday for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title by thrashing Laura Siegemund on day one of the Australian Open.

The 39-year-old, playing an unparalleled 100th match at the tournament, looked sharp and smashed 16 winners in the 6-1, 6-1 romp in 56 minutes.

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“This was a good start, it was vintage Serena,” she said.

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Williams, wearing a striking multi-colored, one-legged catsuit, was broken in the opening game but hit back immediately and kept her foot on the pedal in a one-sided contest.

She showed no ill-effects of a shoulder injury that ruled her out of the semifinals of the warm-up Yarra Valley Classic.

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Williams has also been battling a lingering Achilles injury first sustained at last year’s US Open, but has been in strong form so far in Melbourne.

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The American, seeded 10th in her 20th Australian Open, needs one more major to equal Margaret Court’s record Grand Slam tally.

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She has not added to her glittering collection since beating her sister Venus in the Australian Open final in 2017 when she was pregnant with daughter Olympia.

Williams, the seven-time Australian Open champion, will play Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic in the second round.

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TAGS: 2021 Australian Open, first round, Grand Slam, Laura Siegemund, Serena Williams, Tennis

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