INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Top-ranked Serena Williams moved into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday with a ragged 7-6 (2), 6-0 victory over Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.
In the opening set, the two-time tournament champion showed the effects of a six-week layoff since losing the Australian Open final. She made 29 unforced errors and seemed completely out of a rhythm against Putintseva, who played aggressively and challenged every close line call.
Williams had to break Putintseva's serve to force the tiebreaker and then finally began to impose herself on the 56th-ranked Putintseva, winning the final five points.