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MELBOURNE - Serena Williams marked her return to the tennis stage with a 6-4 6-0 demolition of Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson in the first round of the Hobart International today.
The American was making her comeback after a four-month injury layoff and was eager to prove a point about her fitness before the Australian Open begins next Monday.
World number 60 Arvidsson was ranked 34 spots above Williams but that counted for little against a player who has won seven grand slam titles.
After allowing her opponent four games in the first set, the 25-year-old Williams was relieved that her knee held up well as she ran Arvidsson ragged in the second.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, Williams ominously warned her rivals that she still had plenty in reserve.
"I didn't play my best...I just think I'm a little rusty because it's like I haven't played since the US Open and only played four tournaments last year," she told reporters.
"I was most happy with my return of serve today and that's about it.
"Physically right now I'm feeling good and I'm taking it literally one day at a time."
Joining Williams in the next round was local favourite Alicia Molik, who desperately wants to recapture the form that lifted her to eighth in the world in 2005 before an inner ear infection put the brakes on her career.
The Australian repaid local organisers for her wildcard with a 4-6 6-1 6-2 win over Croatian Jelena Kostanic.
"I'm happy with the result, she got three games in the last two sets, I can't really complain about that," Molik said.
Defending champion Michaella Krajicek lost her grip on the title when France's Severine Bremond beat her 3-6 6-1 6-0.
Bremond did not let a medical time out for a leg injury distract her and stunned Krajicek with her fierce groundstrokes in the last two sets.
"I strained my leg in practice yesterday," Bremond said. "I wasn't able to put any pressure on it until I had it bandaged."
India's Sania Mirza also ignored the form book when she beat fourth-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-4 6-4.
- REUTERS
