Serena Williams battles wind, rust for comeback win

Serena Williams was troubled by windy conditions and some early rust before beating 69th-ranked Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-4 to launch her comeback from a four-month lay-off at the Auckland Classic

Serena Williams

Auckland: Serena Williams was troubled by windy conditions and some early rust before beating 69th-ranked Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-4 to launch her comeback from a four-month lay-off at the Auckland Classic yesterday.

In her first outing since she was shocked by Karolina Pliskova in the US Open semi-finals in September, the world number two made a sluggish start to a season in which she is seeking a record 23rd Grand Slam title.

"I'm feeling like I'm trying to get there. Obviously every match counts," she said. "This wind was getting to me. Every day I've practised here there was no wind and when I played it's so windy," Serena said.

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