(Reuters) – Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the WTA Tour yesterday, crushing China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-3 in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
A five-times winner of the elite event, the American fired down six aces and broke her opponent four times on the way to a one-sided victory in her first appearance since the Australian Open in January.
“I’m always a little nervous in the first round, and I kind of chill out after that,” 10th seed and former world number one Williams told reporters. “It’s always the same. It’s always been the same. “Last time I played I played horrible, and I was thinking as long as I don’t hit a ball into the stands I’ll be good. I didn’t do that today, so it worked out well.”
Williams, who won the title in Miami in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008, had not played in the event since 2009 because of injury and illness.
The 13-time grand slam singles champion will next face Italy’s Roberta Vinci, who swept aside Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5 6-1. Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, another former number one on the comeback trail, booked her place in the third round with a 6-2 7-5 win over Germany’s Julia Goerges on a blustery day in Miami.
