Tennis-Serena shakes out rust to advance in Auckland

[January 03, 2017]  AUCKLAND (Reuters) - World number two Serena Williams shook out any cobwebs from four months away from tennis with a 6-3 6-4 victory over France's Pauline Parmentier in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old had not played a competitive match since she lost to Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open last September, withdrawing from all tennis to deal with a persistent shoulder injury.

The American, who had participated in a charity doubles match with sister Venus against All Blacks siblings Julian and Ardie Savea before the tournament started, was appearing for the first time in Auckland and persistent rain on Monday postponed her first round match until Tuesday.

She struggled with the wind and had some rusty moments in the second set when the Frenchwoman broke in the fourth game and held three break points in the sixth.

The top seed was able to overcome them, however, and won the match with her eighth ace.

"It was my first match back in several months and I played a really good player," Williams said courtside after she wrapped up victory in 75 minutes to set up a second round clash against qualifier Jamie Loeb or Madison Brengle.

"The wind was really getting to me. Every day I have practised here there was no wind but today it was so windy. So it was fun. Actually, it wasn't fun, it was interesting."

She conceded she was feeling rusty and would be selective about her schedule in the new season.

"I don't see myself playing a full, full schedule. But who knows? I'm going to take it tourney by tourney."

Injury kept her out of much of the second half in 2016 even though she still triumphed in Wimbledon to equal Steffi Graf's open era record of 22 grand slam titles and her target this year was to surpass that.

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after winning a point against Simona Halep of Romania on day ten of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

 "Unfortunately I have the highest of goals usually, so obviously that involves winning grand slams," she said.

Another former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, dropped just one game in a ruthless 6-1 6-0 dismantling of Nicole Gibbs in their first round match.

"It's the first match of the year for me so it's always tough," Wozniacki said. "(But) today everything was going in, even with the wind I managed to keep control of the ball and the points.

"I was pleased, especially with how I was serving."

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington and Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Nick Mulvenney/Greg Stutchbury)

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