MADRID (AP) — Top-ranked Serena Williams beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-6 (5), 6-1 to advance to the second round of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Williams said she felt a bit sluggish. She next faces Lourdes Dominguez-Lino of Spain.
Putintseva broke Williams’ serve early to open up a 3-1 lead in the first set. But the defending champion settled down once she broke back and, after winning the tiebreaker, dominated the second set.
Older sister Venus Williams withdrew early Sunday morning before her first-round match because of back problems.
Former top-ranked player Caroline Wozniacki was ousted by 35th-ranked Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-4.
