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SPORTS Wednesday 16 January 2019
Serena Williams wins Australian Open return; Venus gets by

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
— This was quite a return for
Serena Williams. Almost as if
she never left.
In her first match at the
Australian Open since win-
ning the 2017 title while
pregnant — and her first
official match anywhere
since a loss in the chaotic
U.S. Open final last Septem-
ber — Williams looked to
be at her dominant best,
overpowering Tatjana Ma-
ria 6-0, 6-2 in the first round
Tuesday.
"I kind of like to jump in the
deep end and swim," Wil-
liams said in an on-court
interview after the 49-min-
ute workout, "and see what
happens."
She hadn't dipped her toe
in Grand Slam waters since
New York, where everything
devolved after Williams was
warned for getting coach-
ing, then docked a point
for breaking a racket and
eventually docked a game United States' Serena Williams reacts after hitting a backhand return during her first round match against Germany's Tatjana Maria
for calling the chair umpire at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
"a thief" during the final. Associated Press
When that match was men-
tioned by a reporter during minutes to wrap up the first guruza among the wom- Mitchell Krueger of the wears compression stock-
Williams' news conference set, ceding just five of 29 en, plus No. 4 Alexander U.S. 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, while Ha- ings during matches to try
Tuesday, as part of a ques- points along the way. Zverev, No. 8 Kei Nishikori, lep trailed by a set and a to make sure she doesn't
tion about whether coach- The American, a former No. 11 Borna Coric and No. break before coming back get blood clots again.
ing should be allowed dur- No. 1 who is seeded 16th 12 Fabio Fognini among to beat Kaia Kanepi 6-7 (2), On a humid afternoon
ing matches at majors, she on account of playing only the men. 6-4, 6-2 and avoid becom- with the temperature top-
replied, "I, like, literally have 24 matches in 2018, never Both Nishikori, who had ing the first top-seeded ping 90 degrees (32 Cel-
no comment." faced a single break point dropped the opening two woman in 40 years to lose sius) Tuesday, she wore a
Truth be told, the match and compiled a 22-7 edge sets against qualifier Kamil her opening match at the green leotard of sorts — she
against Maria was not in winners. Majchrzak, and Fognini ad- Australian Open. called it a "Serena-tard" —
much of a test for Williams, "Maybe," Maria said after- vanced when their oppo- Krueger was part of a and while her dangerous
given that the 74th-ranked ward, "I was a little bit over- nents retired mid-match. rough day for American serve produced only two
German entered with an whelmed." French Open finalist Domi- men, who went 1-5 Tues- aces, her other, consider-
11-15 record in first-round Just a little bit. nic Thiem went the dis- day; Ryan Harrison had the able, tools were in working
matches at Grand Slam The two players have tance against Benoit Paire lone victory. order.
tournaments, only once homes near each other in before wrapping up a 6-4, Two years ago, no one When she returned to the
has made it as far as the a gated community in Flor- 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 6-3 win just af- knew Serena Williams was tour last season, she often
third round at any major ida — "We do sometimes ter 2 a.m. carrying her child while was asked to rate herself in
and owns a total of one ca- barbecue together," Maria Williams' older sister, Venus, winning her 23rd major to comparison to how good
reer WTA title after a dozen said — and their daugh- is unseeded at a major for break a tie with Steffi Graf she played in the past.
years on the tour. ters — Williams' is 16 months the first time in five years for the most in the half-cen- The younger Williams sister
Williams, meanwhile, is old; Maria's is 5 years old — and she was a game from tury professional era. Her has no interest in that sort
pursuing an eighth title share play dates. a first-round exit before baby, Olympia, was born of comparison now.
in Melbourne and 24th "I think the last time I was coming all the way back on Sept. 1, 2017, and Wil- "I don't want to give myself
Slam singles trophy overall, here, I was actually preg- to eliminate 25th-seeded liams was off the tour until a ranking anymore. I think it
which would equal Marga- nant and playing at the Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-7 (3), last March. gives me too much nega-
ret Court — whose career same time, which is insane," 7-6 (3), 6-2. Her Grand Slam return tive expectations. I always
spanned the amateur and Williams said. "It was kind of She is a seven-time major came at the 2018 French expect to reach the sky,
professional eras — for the weird walking back on — champion and a two-time Open, where she reached and anything below it is not
most in tennis history. by myself, this time." runner-up in Australia but is the fourth round before good enough for me," said
"I have been going for the Other seeded winners Tues- currently ranked only 36th. withdrawing with an injured Serena, who'll face 2014
record (for) what seems like day included No. 4 Naomi The tournament's two No. 1 chest muscle, and was fol- Wimbledon runner-up Eug-
forever now," the 37-year- Osaka, No. 7 Karolina Plis- seeds, Novak Djokovic and lowed by runner-up show- enie Bouchard next. "I don't
old Williams said, "so it kova, No. 12 Elise Mertens, Simona Halep, played at ings at Wimbledon and the know. I just know that I'm
doesn't feel any different." No. 13 Anastasija Sevas- night and both won — al- U.S. Open. going in the right direction.
How lopsided was this? tova, No. 17 Madison Keys though in contrasting fash- Because of a health scare I feel like I'm in the right di-
Williams needed all of 18 and No. 18 Garbine Mu- ion. Djokovic eliminated after giving birth, Serena rection. We'll see."q