Serena Williams is now 61-1 in opening rounds at Grand Slam singles events with her win over Italy’s Camila Giorgi in straight sets at the Australian Open: 6-4, 7-5. The 36th ranked Giorgi could not overcome 12 double faults (compared to just 2 by the American) and 32 unforced errors (versus 22 from Williams) in a hard-hitting contest. Serena served well in the match – winning 86% of the points her first serve and 65% of her second service points and faced only one breakpoint in the match. The American had won both of their previous meetings in straight sets as well: Charleston in 2013 and in the Fed Cup in 2015, both on clay. Williams has 69 career WTA titles to her credit, Giorgi has one.
Williams jumped out to an impressive start in her quest to match Steffi Graff’s 22 major titles with a flawless 4-1 lead in the first set. Giorgi got one break back in the fifth game as the American committed her first three unforced errors in the match. Giorgi confirmed the break to get to 4-3 in favor of Williams. Each player held serve over the next three games and the World Number 1 closed out the set on the strength of big serves.
Each player held serve in the second set for the first ten games with Giorgi surviving her double faults and saving five break points. The Italian saved one more in the eleventh game, but Williams finally got the first break in the second set on a double fault by Giorgi. Serena closed out the match in style, holding at love – with two aces and forcing two Giorgi errors.
The hard-hitting and unpredictable Giorgi was a good first round opponent for Williams to test the American’s focus and movement. Williams dominated the WTA tour in 2015 until she lost to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of the US Open. Serena did not play in any of the remaining 2015 tournaments, including the WTA Championships in Singapore deciding to “properly address her health and take the time to heal.” In this match, she moved well, not showing any signs of the knee inflammation that led her to withdraw from the Hopman Cup.
Serena will face Su-Wei Hseih of Taipei in the second round. Hsieh who got past Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in three sets: 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
