The 23-time Major champion Serena Williams is through to the second round in Toronto. Serena made a winning start at her tenth National Bank Open with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Nuria Parrizas Diaz from Spain in just under two hours.
Thus, Williams delivered her first victory since the third round of the last year’s Roland Garros, celebrating her first win on the Tour in 430 days! The American took ten points more than the Spaniard and prevailed in the crucial moments.
Serena denied seven of eight break chances and delivered three return games that carried her over the top. Williams made a nice hold at the start of the duel and broke at 30 in game two after the rival’s forehand error for 2-0.
Parrizas Diaz pulled the break back immediately in game three after Williams’ forehand drive-volley mistake to get her name to the scoreboard.
Serena Williams made a winning start in Toronto.
Both players served well in the next four games, and Serena opened a 4-3 advantage after the rival’s loose forehand.
The American forged her second lead with a backhand drive-volley winner in game eight and opened a 5-3 gap. Williams defended a break point while serving for the set in game nine with an ace. She brought the set home after numerous deuces with a smash winner for 6-3 in 41 minutes.
The Spaniard held after deuce at the start of the second set, and the American leveled the score at 1-1 with a service winner. Parrizas Diaz moved 2-1 in front with a comfortable hold, saved Williams’ game points in the next one and created a break chance.
Serena produced stunning shot-making and denied it with a forehand crosscourt winner for a massive boost. The Spaniard delivered another fine hold in game five for 3-2 and earned another break opportunity in the next one. Serena saved it with a forehand winner and held after the rival’s loose forehand for 3-3.
Parrizas Diaz fended off a break chance in game seven after Williams’ terrible forehand and held for 4-3. The eighth game brought almost ten deuces and multiple break points for Nuria. Serena struggled but refused to surrender, repelling them all and wrapping up the game with a service winner for 4-4 and a boost.
Williams earned a break point in game nine with a perfect drop shot winner and seized it after an extended rally to build the crucial advantage. Serena served for the victory in game ten and forced the opponent’s mistake to celebrate the first victory in 14 months.
