Serena Williams began her quest for a fourth straight grand slam title, and a 21st in all, with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over the Russian qualifier Margarita Gasparyan, recovering from a slow start to ease into the second round.
Struggling to get her feet moving on the lush grass of Court No1, the American trailed 3-1 in the first set but with the help of a few roars and the odd expletive, she shook herself out of her lethargy to record an eventually convincing win.
“I knew she would be a good player – I can’t say I thought she’d be that good, to be honest,” Williams said.