Serena Williams overcame early struggles, sweeping past countrywoman Kristie Ahn 7-6 (2), 6-0 to reach the French Open second round.
Williams, again eyeing a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, started out like somebody who went 16 months between clay-court matches. She needed 74 minutes to take the first set from the 102nd-ranked Ahn, recovering twice after having her serve broken.
She dominated the second set in 27 minutes, advancing to play Bulgarian and fellow mom Tsvetana Pironkova, a rematch of their three-set U.S. Open quarterfinal three weeks ago.
Williams, in long sleeves and tights, had 15 winners to 28 unforced errors in the first set in cloudy, sub-60-degree weather on Monday.
"I hate the cold. I'm from L.A. and I live in Florida," Williams said before the tournament, which was postponed from its usual May/June slot due to the coronavirus pandemic. "For half my life I've never seen snow. Cold weather and me do not mix."
Victoria Azarenka," data-reactid="25">Williams also noted before the tournament that she was "not at 100 percent physically" and spent most of her time in France "rehabbing" without giving specifics. She took a medical timeout with a left Achilles injury in her last match, a U.S. Open semifinal loss to Victoria Azarenka,
"I wouldn't be playing if I didn't think I could perform," Williams said Saturday. "I don't know any athlete that ever plays physically when they're feeling perfect. That's just something I think as athletes we have to play with."
Earlier Monday, newly crowned U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem rolled 2014 U.S. Open winner Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Thiem, the 2018 and 2019 French Open runner-up, next gets American Jack Sock, a former top-10 player now ranked No. 310. Sock took out countryman Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first main draw win at the French Open in four years.
Rafael Nadal begins his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title and male record-tying 20th Grand Slam singles title later Monday.
The French Open first round concludes Tuesday with top-ranked Novak Djokovic in action.
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