ZCZC
BSP-15
TENNIS-WTA-NZL
Serena powers past Giorgi for first win of 2020
AUCKLAND, Jan 7, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams found her power game
after a sluggish start as she overcame qualifier Camila Giorgi to open her
2020 season with a straight-sets victory at the Auckland WTA Classic on
Tuesday.
With an eye on the Australian Open later in the month, the 38-year-old
worked her way into a blistering performance that proved too much for the 1.7
metre (5ft 6in) Italian.
“I feel really good, it was fun to be out there,” Williams said after
sealing her 6-3, 6-2 victory with her eighth ace against the 99th-ranked
Giorgi.
“It’s really good that I still have some power left in my arms and my
legs.”
Williams, originally drawn to play two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana
Kuznetsova before the Russian pulled out due to a virus, said her preparation
had been helped by playing doubles with Caroline Wozniacki the previous
evening which allowed her to adapt to the blustery Auckland weather.
“I knew it was going to be really tough but I think the doubles really
helped. I got to come out here and play a little bit in these conditions and
get used to them.”
In Williams’ first match since losing the US Open final in September, she
took time to settle and was forced to save an early break point with the
first six games all going with serve.
But at 3-3 in the first set, Williams found her range and from there on the
result was never in doubt.
Auckland is an important tournament for the veteran as she prepares for the
Australian Open later in the month with her eyes firmly on a record-equalling
24th Grand Slam title.
While Williams is the undisputed face of American tennis, she has been
joined in Auckland by the new wave of US tennis stars, headed by the
tournament third seed Amanda Anisimova who did not disappoint.
The 18-year-old, who captured world attention reaching the semi-finals of
the French Open last year where she lost in three sets to eventual champion
Asleigh Barty, needed 78 minutes to dispose of Kateryna Kozlova of the
Ukraine 6-3, 6-4.
Unlike Williams, Anisimova said she felt quite at home in the Auckland
wind.
“I’ve been training in Miami and it’s really the same,” she said.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1212 hrs