The rain subsided and clouds parted, but Serena Williams still arrived dressed for a storm. Relegated to Court 2 for the second consecutive year, Williams removed her white mini-trench coat, then went to work in creating a successful start to the tournament where she's realized several happy endings.
In her first match since her shocking first-round loss at the French Open last month, Williams calmed her bubbling nerve and a feisty Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the second round. It wasn’t vintage Serena—she failed to serve out the match at 5-3, and her second serve was shallow at times—but she wound up with 24 winners against 12 unforced errors and converted six of 12 break points to subdue a crafty opponent in 70 minutes.
Seldom has a Serena first-round match elicited so much scrutiny, but given she had not played since suffering the first opening-round major exit of her career, plus older sister Venus' lethargic departure yesterday, and the fact the All England Club again opted to bounce a woman with eight Wimbledon championships to Court 2, this one had tense elements stewing before the pair even struck a shot.
The sight of Venus walking off the court yesterday is a reminder of how fast the career clock ticks on champions, and Serena came out with urgency of a woman determined to take Strycova's response time away. Williams won eight of her first nine service points and broke at love for a 3-1 lead.
Using her soft hands to draw Williams to the front court at times, Strycova broke back with a fine backhand volley for 2-3. Serena erupted with a loud "Come on!", delivered with a clenched fist as she broke back for 4-2, igniting a three-game run that sealed the first set in 29 minutes. Williams played at times with almost exaggerated positive emotion, fist-pumping frequently as if trying to pummel away the painful memories of her Paris loss with each swing.
When a Williams return floated long in the second set, the 26-year-old Czech celebrated a hard-fought hold for 1-all with a loud “Come on!” of her own, sending Serena a signal she was committed to the cause. Strycova reads the play well and often put herself in the right spot on court, but in the eighth game of the second set missed a volley in prime position on break point to drop serve.
Serving for the match, Serena tightened a bit with the finish line in sight. Williams made a determined run and eyed an open expanse of court, but netted a backhand, falling flat on the seat of her plum-colored spandex cycle shorts. Forget Paris? Serena didn't, and this time didn't blow a second-set lead as she broke to close.
The woman who set the Wimbledon ace record en route to the 2010 title looked more comfortable returning than serving at times today, and will want to smooth out her forehand. Majors aren't won in the first week, but can be lost, as Williams learned in Paris.
—Richard Pagliaro