Madrid – World number one Serena Williams began the defence of her Madrid Open title on Sunday with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 win over Swiss 17-year-old Belinda Bencic.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion was playing for the first time since suffering a shock defeat to Jana Cepelova in Charleston over a month ago, but showed no signs of rustiness to set up a second round meeting with China's Peng Shuai or Japan's Kurumi Nara.
Ruthless Williams won 21 consecutive points on Sunday on the way to her convincing victory. – Sapa-AFP