Wimbledon 2018: Serena Williams battles through opening challenge
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Updated 02/07/2018 at 19:23 GMT
Serena Williams did enough to secure a straight-sets 7-5 6-3 win over Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands to reach the second round of Wimbledon.
Serena Williams celebrates winning against Netherlands' Arantxa Rus during their women's singles first round match on the first day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club
Image credit: Getty Images
Seeded 25th at SW19, Serena was never on top form in the first-round encounter, but equally was never truly tested.
The American produced the crucial break of serve from 5-5 in the opening set as Rus battled valiantly to stay in the contest.
After having closed out the first set, Serena was more convincing in the second as she conceded just three games to the Dutch player.
Having been forced to withdraw from Roland Garros before her scheduled match against Maria Sharapova, it was an encouraging start to her Wimbledon campaign.
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Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning the first set during the first round match against Netherlands' Arantxa Rus
Image credit: Reuters
"She played unbelievable today, I've never seen her play like that before," Williams said.
"I didn't play my best but I'll get there."
The seven-times champion, who missed last year's tournament while pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia, is one of the favourites to triumph despite having a ranking of 181.
The 36-year-old will next take on the winner of Tereza Smitkova's clash with Viktoriya Tomova in the second round.
Round one results
- 2-Caroline Wozniacki defeats Varvara Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3
- 7-Karolina Pliskova defeats Harriet Dart 7-2, 2-6, 6-1
- Donna Vekic defeats 4-Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-3
- 9-Venus Williams defeats Johanna Larsson 7-6, 6-2, 6-1
- 10-Madison Keys defeats Ajla Tomljanovich 6-4, 6-2
- 25-Serena Williams defeats Arantxa Rus 7-5 6-3
- Sorana Cirstea defeats 19-Magdalena Rybarikova 7-5, 6-3
- Andrea Petkovic defeats 31-Zhang Shuai 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
- Yanina Wickmayer defeats Mona Berthel 7-5, 6-4
- Alexandra Dulgheru defeats Kristyna Pliskova 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
- Evgeniya Rodina defeats Antonia Lottner 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
- Victoria Azarenka defeats Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6, 6-3
- Kiki Bertens defeats Barbora Stefkova 6-3, 6-2
- Rebecca Peterson defeats Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6, 7-6
- Luksikha Kumkhum defeats Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
- Madison Brengle defeats Aleksandra Krunic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
- Camila Giorgi defeats Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
- Ekatarina Makarova defeats Petra Martic 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
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