The second-seeded Williams, who has an alternate year pattern of titles here since 2003, had a 6-3, 6-2 win over China’s Yuan Meng in 75 minutes in the following match on center court.
“Ooh! It’s a little hot out here,” Williams said.
In addition to the heat, the early afternoon sun was nearly blinding at one end of the court.
Williams let several service tosses drop during one game before shortening her motion, costing her some speed.
When a passing cloud brought brief relief, a fan shouted, “Close the roof!” A swirling, gusty wind added unpredictability, and a flurry of moths annoyed the players and sent staffers scurrying to sweep them off the court during changeovers.
Williams, who won the first of her nine majors in Melbourne, said she was ready for whatever conditions she encountered.
“I love playing out here, as everyone knows,” she said. “This one you have to prepare different ... (for) the conditions like today.”
Photographers at courtside draped their heads and bodies in wet towels. Spectators fanned themselves with paper and official programs.
Oracene Price, mother and coach of Serena and Venus Williams, sat in the bleachers under an oversized straw hat. She had another first-round match to watch later Tuesday, with sixth-seeded Venus opening against Germany’s Angelique Kerber on the second showcourt.
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Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva beat Germany’s Kristina Barrois 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-1, and No. 13 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced.
No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland went down to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-1. She was the highest of the seeded players to fall so far.
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