adminThe 30-year Williams, who last played Down Under when she won the Austra-lian Open title in 2010, was not able to defend the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup last January due to injury.
She was also returning after a lengthy layoff following a sensational tirade against the chair umpire in the US Open final against Australia’s Sam Stosur last September.
Williams lost and was censured and fined $2 000 for her outburst. Prior to the Brisbane tournament she said she would not dial down her intensity.
That passion, which has led to 13 grand slam titles, was needed at certain crucial points yesterday as the fourth seed overpowered a determined Scheepers to set up a second round clash with Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski.
Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic set up a second-round clash with Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters after she easily accounted for Austria’s Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-3 in just under 80 minutes.
“There were some nerves involved, particularly early on but I felt I played well,” Ivanovic told reporters.
“Obviously there is still some room for improvement but it was the first match and I’m happy.”
Ivanovic has played Clijsters four times, losing all four matches, but the Belgian is coming back from an abdominal injury and has only played once, her first round victory over Romania’s Simona Halep on Sunday, since last August.
“It’s a tough match, no doubt, at least it’s in the second round and not the first round,” Ivanovic said.
“I just need to go out there and test myself and push and see how far (away) I am from the top players.
“It will be a battle and I just want to try and apply things that I have worked on and see how that plays.” — Rtrs.
Online Reporter