Serena Williams was on her best behavior Tuesday in her first match in a Grand Slam tournament since her famous outburst at the 2009 US Open, beating up on Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the Australian Open.
Williams played the match on Rod Laver Arena with a heavily-taped upper right thigh and was visibly limping at the start of the match.
After losing to Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Sydney International last week, Williams complained of a painful left knee, but vowed she would defend her title in Melbourne this year.
Late last year, Williams was fined $82,500 for her tirade at the U.S. Open, where she threatened to a line judge who had called a second-serve foot-fault that gave her opponent, Kim Clijsters, a match point in their semifinal. Williams’ “colorful” language and threats earned her a point penalty, which gave Clijsters the match.
In addition to her fine, the Grand Slam committee also placed Williams on probation for her behavior at major events in 2010 and 2011. If he has another “”major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament during the two-year stretch, he fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from competing in the following U.S. Open.
Serena, the world No. 1, and Australian Open champion in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, will next face Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the next round. The last time Kvitova played a No. 1 seed at a major tournament, she won, defeating top seed Dinara Safina in the third round of the 2009 U.S. Open.