Australian Open: Serena admits first-round nerves

Serena Williams has admitted that she always suffers from
“first-round jitters” after beating Alison van Uytvanck in
straight sets earlier.
The world number one looked to be cruising after wrapping up
the first set 6-0, but had to battle to edge out the Belgian in
the second.
The five-time Australian Open champion told reporters: “It is
never easy, I always have first-round jitters and I do get
nervous. It is good to come out with a win and I felt really
good out there.
“I thought [Van Uytvanck] played really well and especially in
the second set. The first set she was just kind of finding her
mark and then in the second set we saw why she is so good.
I was happy to get through that.”
Williams will play Russia’s Vera Zvonareva in round two.
Novak Djokovic, a four-time Australian Open champion,
returned to Rod Laver Arena for the first time as a husband
and father, shrugging off the effects of a cold to beat No. 116-
ranked Aljaz Bedene, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, in his first-round match.
Djokovic won the first of his seven major titles at the 2008
Australian Open, then won here in three consecutive years
from 2011 to 2013. His 25-match winning streak at
Melbourne Park ended in a quarterfinal loss last year to Stan
Wawrinka, who went on to win the title.
Wawrinka began the defence of a major crown for the first
time with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 100-ranked Marsel
Ilhan, taking less than one and a half hours to breeze through
the first round.
“It’s great, bringing me a lot of memories from last year,”
Wawrinka said of his return. “It was great to come back here
feeling happy, happy with my game.”