Williams advances with style at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England -- Back on one of tennis' top stages, Venus Williams cut a familiar figure yesterday at Wimbledon, from her latest original, somewhat-see-through outfit to her trademark booming serves and aggressive ground strokes.

Williams smacked seven aces at up to 118 mph, totaled 23 winners to only five unforced errors, and overwhelmed 97th-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round at the All England Club.

The seven-time major champion recently was off the tour for about five months with a hip injury, including missing the French Open, and this is only her fourth tournament in nearly a year.

"It's a good place to start. And this is kind of like a home for her. She loves it," said Williams' hitting partner, David Witt. "She feels confident out here, and in women's tennis, 'confident' goes a long way."

There sure was nothing shy about a playsuit Williams called "trendy": white and sleeveless, with a deep 'V' neckline, a triangle cutout in the back, a gold belt and gold zipper.

"Jumpers are very 'now,' " she said, "as is lace." Not as sensational as the corset-like black lace number with skin-toned undergarments that drew so much attention at the 2010 French Open, but Monday's romper looked something akin to a toga and surely would have won the approval of her Roman goddess namesake.

Williams' outfit -- and, of course, superb play, which betrayed no lingering effects from her injury -- generated the most buzz on Day 1 of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.

"I do realize I don't have as many matches," said Williams, only 5-2 this season and 9-3 since last July. "So, yeah, for sure, I know I need to kind of come out firing. Been pretty good at that in the past -- and today."

Others reaching the second round included 10-time major champion Rafael Nadal, whose parents sat in the Royal Box during his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over 90th-ranked Michael Russell of Houston; No. 4 Andy Murray, and No. 10 Mardy Fish.