Serena gets off to a good start in Australia
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy in their first round men's singles match on day two of the 2012 Australian Open. (Jan. 17, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
MELBOURNE, Australia -- If anything, it was the insects buzzing around Rod Laver Arena that bugged Serena Williams the most.
The injured left ankle held up fine in her opening match Tuesday at the Australian Open, and even the near-midnight start time was OK. But the bugs? "I hate bugs more than you can imagine," Williams said after reaching the second round by beating Tamira Paszek, 6-3, 6-2. "Like, they kept jumping on me. Yuck!"
In other women's matches, defending champion Kim Clijsters cruised into the third round, needing only 47 minutes to beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon, 6-0, 6-1. French Open champion Li Na advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Olivia Rogowska.
In men's second-round play, eighth-seeded Mardy Fish, the highest-ranked American, was upset by Colombia's Alejandro Falla, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6. Second-seeded Rafael Nadal beat Tommy Haas, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, and third-seeded Roger Federer advanced on a walkover when Andreas Beck withdrew because of a back injury.
Williams' match started at 11:32 p.m., and she hit a service winner 79 minutes later to finish it. Between points, though, she picked up and moved or shooed away bugs that landed on court, and two that landed on her back. A big one gave her a fright, making her hop as she tried to stifle a screech.
"I'm going to request not to play at night anymore because I hate bugs, except for the final. I heard it's at night," Williams said. "I'll try to get used to them."
Two years after she won her last Australian Open title, Williams extended her winning streak to 15 matches at Melbourne Park in the season's first major tournament. She won titles in 2009 and 2010 but missed the chance to defend her title last year amid a prolonged injury layoff.
The match started late because Williams and Paszek had to wait until the conclusion of a 4-hour men's night match won by Lleyton Hewitt. And it was her first match since badly spraining her ankle two weeks ago at the Brisbane International, an injury that jeopardized her participation in Melbourne.
Monday was the first time she was able to practice pain free, but she still had her lower left leg and ankles heavily taped. "I don't let anything bother me," she said. "It's definitely different to have the ladies play so late, you know, so we'll see."
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