MELBOURNE: Serena Williams, in search for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title, started her Australian Open campaign in an emphatic manner as she zipped past Laura Siegemund of Germany, 6-1, 6-1, on to notch her opening-round win on Monday.
With the win, the seven-time Australian Open champion improved her flawless record in first-round matches at Grand Slam events to an astounding 76-1.
Serena is contesting a milestone 20th Australian Open, and her 56-minute win over Siegemund was her 100th career match at the event.
"This was a good start. Definitely vintage 'Rena, " the 39-year-old said after the match. "It's definitely good. I think I'm pretty good at pacing myself in a Grand Slam.
"Last year was very crazy for the world, and to be able to do what I love and to be able to come out and compete and play at a Grand Slam, after the last 12 months, it makes me appreciate the moment even more, " she added.
The American will next face Serbia's Nina Stojanovic on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Serena's elder sister Venus also registered a straight-set win in her opening round contest, defeating Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 7-5, 6-2, at the Margaret Court Arena.
Meanwhile, three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka defeated Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-2 in her opening round contest which lasted 68 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.
"I feel like for me the most recent memory I have of playing her was in the Osaka final (to win the title in 2019), so it's always really hard to play someone that good in the first round, " Osaka said after the match.
She will next lock horns with former world number four Caroline Garcia from France, who overcame Slovenia's Polona Hercog, 7-6(6), 6-3.