KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Seven-time champion Serena Williams won her opening match at the Miami Open on Saturday, beating Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-1.
The match was the first for Williams since she withdrew before the semifinals at Indian Wells last week with a right knee injury.
Williams showed no lingering effects and pulled away after a slow start, winning nine of the final 10 games. She hit 29 winners and erased six of the seven break points she faced.
The two-time defending champion has won her past 13 matches on Key Biscayne. She had a first-round bye and will face 15-year-old American CiCi Bellis in the third round Sunday.
In men’s play, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made a successful 2015 debut by beating American Tim Smyczek 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
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