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Serena Williams dropped just two games in her opening round against Laura Siegemund at the Australian Open on Monday. The 10th seed won 6-1, 6-1 in just 56 minutes. Despite the dominant score-line, the start was somewhat shaky for Williams as she lost her serve in the opening game of the first set.
However, while Siegemund did win her first game of the match quickly, she ended up having to wait a while to win her second game – and to hold her serve – in the match.
Australian Open: Serena Williams steps on familiar territory
Meanwhile, the loss of her first service game spurred Williams on quite a comeback.
The seven-time Australian Open champion won the next six games on the trot to take the opening set. Then, added four games to this tally in the second set to go up 6-1, 4-0. Williams’ chokehold on the match was finally ended by Siegemund who came out the winner in the fifth game of the set to finally hold her own for the first time in the match.
The relief of having done so was short-lived as Williams won the last two games to move into the second round at Melbourne Park. Williams hit four times as many winners as Siegemund – 16 to four – and had 15 unforced errors to the German’s 20.
Throughout the match, Siegemund kept overhitting in trying to put Williams on the backfoot. On the other hand, Williams’ groundstrokes were firm and solid as they usually are on her good days. Williams also had considerable success at the net, winning four of six points even as Siegemund struggled when coming forward, winning merely two points from her seven approaches to the net.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion finished with 54 points to Siegemund’s 23. In the second round at Melbourne Park, Serena Williams will play Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic.