A review of day one at SW19, as Serena Williams enjoys a winning return and Caroline Wozniacki safely progresses...
Serena Williams enjoyed a winning return to the All England Club by beating Arantxa Rus 7-5 6-3 in the first round.
The 36-year-old, trying to secure an eighth Wimbledon crown, missed the 2017 tournament as she was pregnant with her daughter Olympia and this year's version is just the fourth event she has played since giving birth last September - and only the second outside the United States.
Her first was at the French Open last month, where Williams had to pull out ahead of the fourth round with an arm injury, having suffered it as a result of playing singles and doubles in Paris.
Elsewhere, US Open champion Sloane Stephens was the major casualty of the opening day, as she was dumped out by Croatian Donna Vekic 6-1 6-3 in what was her first match since the French Open final last month.
Caroline Wozniacki safely navigated her way past Varvara Lepchenko, winning 6-0 6-3, just 48 hours after claiming the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne.
Five-time champion Venus Williams overcame an early scare, coming back from a set down to to beat Swede Johanna Larsson 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 6-1.
Karolina Pliskova also had a battle on her hands to get past British hopeful Harriet Dart in three sets.
Coco Vandeweghe lost her battle with Katerina Siniakova, who won 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 8-6.
The American, seeded 16th, was hampered by an injury sustained in the first set but fought on bravely.
She eventually went down in a three-set epic that lasted three hours and four minutes.
Agnieszka Radwanska, a finalist in 2012, survived by the skin of her teeth to beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The Pole saved six match points to win 6-3 4-6 7-5 and scrape through to the second round.
Magdalena Rybarikova was the first seed to lose as she was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Sorana Cirstea while 22nd seed Anastasija Sevastova was ousted 6-1 2-6 6-4 by Camila Giorgi.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka came through in straight sets against Ekaterina Alexandrova while 2015 quarter-finalist Madison Keys eased past Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4 6-2 in 63 minutes.
There were also wins for Lucie Safarova, Kristina Mladenovic and Barbora Strycova.
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