Audio By Carbonatix
Serena Williams began her quest for a 24th Grand Slam title with a hard-fought win over fellow American Kristie Ahn in the French Open first round.
Sixth seed Williams, who turned 39 on Saturday, overcame a rusty start to win 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 in Paris.
Once she came through a 74-minute opener, Williams began to play with more belief and clarity as she swept Ahn aside in a 27-minute second set.
Williams will play Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round.
Pironkova, 33, was handed a wildcard by Roland Garros organisers after a memorable run to the US Open quarter-finals - where she lost to Williams - in her first tournament since 2017 after giving birth.
Pironkova set up the rematch with a 6-3 6-3 win over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
Latest Stories
-
GhIE congratulates Ing Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko on FAEO appointment
30 seconds -
Methodist Church accounts for all tithes -Presiding Bishop
8 minutes -
Mahama assures business leaders of conducive investment environment to drive economic growth
9 minutes -
Farmers face rising poverty and insecurity in northern Ghana due to climate pressures
23 minutes -
Kantanka Automobile donates motorbikes, TV sets to Interior Ministry
24 minutes -
Meta says it will cut 8,000 jobs as AI spending grows
35 minutes -
OSP saga: Attorney General’s court position reflects Executive’s stance – John Darko
39 minutes -
Ablakwa slams xenophobic attacks in South Africa as ‘betrayal’ of Africans
41 minutes -
Mahama backs immigration reforms, pledges support to modernise GIS
46 minutes -
MiDA CEO pays courtesy call on Gender Minister to deepen collaboration
1 hour -
Open Kasoa–Winneba middle carriageway in 3–4 weeks – Mahama directs contractor
1 hour -
Akosombo Substation Fire: Energy Ministry assures swift response and public safety
1 hour -
Food insecurity 10 times higher among uneducated households — GSS
1 hour -
1 in 5 households spend over 75% of income on food as cost pressures mount — GSS
2 hours -
South Africa expresses regret, promises probe into xenophobic attack on Ghanaians – Ablakwa
2 hours