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WTA Yarra Valley Classic: Serena Williams beats Gavrilova as Karolina Pliskova makes strong start
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Published 01/02/2021 at 10:40 GMT
Serena Williams has won her first match after a four-month break from tennis, defeating Daria Gavrilova at the WTA's Yarra Valley Classic tournament, which takes place at Melbourne Park ahead of the Australian Open next week. There was also a win for third seed Karolina Pliskova, but ninth seed Donna Vekic was eliminated.
Serena Williams of the US reacts on a point against Australia's Daria Gavrilova during their Yarra Valley Classic women's singles tennis match in Melbourne on February 1, 2021.
Image credit: Getty Images
Serena Williams has begun her 2021 season with a convincing win over Daria Gavrilova at the WTA's Yarra Valley Classic Australian Open warm-up tournament.
The veteran has not featured since her withdrawal from the French Open at the end of September, where she beat Kristie Ahn but was not fit enough to face Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round.
She picks up her long quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam win at the Australian Open and has recorded a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win over home hope Gavrilova.
"It feels good to be back here," she said in her post-match press conference
"It was a good match for me. It wasn't easy at all. It was lots of rallies and lots of movement, and she's from here, so she obviously always plays hard.
"So it was really good and it felt good to clinch that in the end."
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'I'm sorry I forgot the question because I was so excited' - Williams on playing in front of fans
Video credit: TNT Sports
Williams was not the only big name to record a win, with Karolina Pliskova defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3, 6-2.
"I feel like I need some matches so I'm definitely happy that I'm through to the next round," the Czech said after the match.
Pliskova's win sets up a meeting with Danielle Collins, who overcame Nina Stojanovic 6-2, 6-1. Vera Zvonareva defeated Pliskova's twin sister Kristyna 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, Marketa Vondrousova beat Varvara Gracheva 6-4, 6-0.
In an intriguing match-up, Pironkova saw off Donna Vekic 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, Alison van Uytvanck recorded a convincing 6-2, 6-0 win over Hsieh Su-wei and there were straight-sets wins for Nadia Podoroska, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Camila Giorgi and Greetje Minnen.
The 2021 Australian Open is live and exclusive on Eurosport. You can watch every moment on eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app.
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