Serena Williams breezed through to the second round of the Australian Open with a straight sets win over Germany's Tatjana Maria.
The 23-time grand slam champion marked her return to Melbourne Park, since winning the title in 2017 while eight weeks pregnant, with a thumping 6-0, 6-2 win. She will face Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in the next round.
Wearing a jade green jumpsuit with fishnet stockings, Serena said that it was good to be back after her first round match against Maria which lasted 49 minutes. The seven-time Australian Open champion also grabbed eyeballs, courtesy her outfit that she called the 'Serena-tard'.
“The last time I was here I was pregnant and playing at the same time which is insane,” she said. She added that she had a lot of memories from the last time she was at the Australian Open.
Serena, who is bidding to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slams, is making her first outing on tour since her meltdown during the US Open final, which she lost to Japan's Naomi Osaka.
Czech Karolina Pliskova and American Madison Keys have also progressed to the next round of the tournament and will face Madison Brengle and Anastasia Potapova respectively.
In the men's singles, Alexander Zverev began his campaign with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 win against Aljaz Bedene.
“I've had about 86 injuries and the ankle is still a bit swollen,” said the 21-year-old. “But I've done everything right in my preparation. Now I either play well or I don't.”
Japan's Kei Nishikori and South Korea's Chung Hyeon are also through to the second round.
