PARIS: Even the Parisian stormclouds cleared for Serena Williams on Tuesday, as the brand new mom's baby steps back to Grand Slam tennis changed into a stride into the second one spherical of the French Open.
ALSO READ: Serena makes fashion observation in Grand Slam go back
Krystina Pliskova, who shared the Wimbledon winners' level with Serena back in 2010 -- the Czech was once junior champion as Serena gained the true factor that year, performed her part around the net on centre court, but there was once just one megastar.
Dressed in a skintight, all-in-one black bodysuit, broken up through a shiny scarlet belt, Serena captivated the French crowd from the start of the contest to its 7-6(4) 6-4 conclusion.
"Two years has been a really long time," she advised the group in French, relating to her ultimate tournament on clay.
"I am just so happy to have won a match here... thank you all."
The ultimate time the American had seemed in a Grand Slam tournament was once on the Australian Open in 2017, when she gained it whilst pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia.
This time there was once a little rust to shake off -- she simplest gave beginning in September -- and she did not rather move as when at her best. But the entire same Serena was once too sturdy, too just right, simply too Serena for her international 70-ranked opponent.
It was once a match-up that, in some respects, made a mockery of statistics. The American started the tournament ranked 9,999th in the race to the annual season-ender. Pliskova sits 52nd.
But in the knowledge that counts, Serena is a huge of the tennis court. Her haul of 23 Grand Slam singles crowns beats Steffi Graf's overall through one, and is just one shy of Margaret Court's report 24.
Coming into this tournament her profession prize cash stood at greater than $84 million. That she is lately ranked 451 in the WTA ratings is an irrelevance - extra pertinent is that she finished 2017 ranked 22, having performed simplest two events all year.
In each and every class, Serena's achievements dwarf her opponent's, bar one -- Pliskova holds the WTA report for aces in a single tournament: 31 on the 2016 Australian Open.
She cracked 15 previous Serena on Court Philippe Chatrier, but even then noticed 13 fly previous her because the American gave as just right as she were given.
"I don't know how many aces there were," Serena smiled courtside after the tournament. "But I think cash goes to charity, so donate!
"I think we raised some actual cash," she laughed ahead of making her solution to the exit, preventing for selfies and to sign autographs for an appreciative French crowd.
Next up for the three-times champion is Australian 17th seed Ashleigh Barty.
It may not be an encounter Barty will relish. She may well be considered probably the most unfortunate of seeds in a Grand Slam, for there can by no means have been a extra dangerous floater in the draw.
French Open organisers stick rigidly to the WTA ratings, so would not seed Serena. That is already starting to look like a mistake Wimbledon -- which allows itself some 'wriggle-room' -- can be sensible to keep away from repeating.
ALSO READ: Serena makes fashion observation in Grand Slam go back
Krystina Pliskova, who shared the Wimbledon winners' level with Serena back in 2010 -- the Czech was once junior champion as Serena gained the true factor that year, performed her part around the net on centre court, but there was once just one megastar.
Dressed in a skintight, all-in-one black bodysuit, broken up through a shiny scarlet belt, Serena captivated the French crowd from the start of the contest to its 7-6(4) 6-4 conclusion.
"Two years has been a really long time," she advised the group in French, relating to her ultimate tournament on clay.
"I am just so happy to have won a match here... thank you all."
The ultimate time the American had seemed in a Grand Slam tournament was once on the Australian Open in 2017, when she gained it whilst pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia.
This time there was once a little rust to shake off -- she simplest gave beginning in September -- and she did not rather move as when at her best. But the entire same Serena was once too sturdy, too just right, simply too Serena for her international 70-ranked opponent.
It was once a match-up that, in some respects, made a mockery of statistics. The American started the tournament ranked 9,999th in the race to the annual season-ender. Pliskova sits 52nd.
But in the knowledge that counts, Serena is a huge of the tennis court. Her haul of 23 Grand Slam singles crowns beats Steffi Graf's overall through one, and is just one shy of Margaret Court's report 24.
Coming into this tournament her profession prize cash stood at greater than $84 million. That she is lately ranked 451 in the WTA ratings is an irrelevance - extra pertinent is that she finished 2017 ranked 22, having performed simplest two events all year.
In each and every class, Serena's achievements dwarf her opponent's, bar one -- Pliskova holds the WTA report for aces in a single tournament: 31 on the 2016 Australian Open.
She cracked 15 previous Serena on Court Philippe Chatrier, but even then noticed 13 fly previous her because the American gave as just right as she were given.
"I don't know how many aces there were," Serena smiled courtside after the tournament. "But I think cash goes to charity, so donate!
"I think we raised some actual cash," she laughed ahead of making her solution to the exit, preventing for selfies and to sign autographs for an appreciative French crowd.
Next up for the three-times champion is Australian 17th seed Ashleigh Barty.
It may not be an encounter Barty will relish. She may well be considered probably the most unfortunate of seeds in a Grand Slam, for there can by no means have been a extra dangerous floater in the draw.
French Open organisers stick rigidly to the WTA ratings, so would not seed Serena. That is already starting to look like a mistake Wimbledon -- which allows itself some 'wriggle-room' -- can be sensible to keep away from repeating.
New mum Serena back in the Grand Slam groove in Paris
![New mum Serena back in the Grand Slam groove in Paris]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 30, 2018
Rating:
