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, attributed her success here with the timing of the event.
“Maybe a new year, wanting to start out the year well,” she said. “Also, it seems to not matter in what condition I come in here, I’m able to at least play a solid game.”
Photographers at courtside draped their heads, bodies and cameras 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.
The temperature dropped to 79 degrees by the time sixth-seeded Venus beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber on the second showcourt.
Venus Williams, the reigning Wimbledon champion, rallied from 3-1 down in the second set to win five straight games and the match.
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Williams, in a bright yellow dress, rushed to a 5-0 lead in the first set. But Kerber’s go-for-broke style started working. She broke Williams, then fended off three set points, before Williams finished off the set with her fifth ace.
Kerber broke again to pull ahead 3-1. It was the last game she won as Williams started catching the lines again.
Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva beat Germany’s Kristina Barrois 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-1. Also advancing were No. 13 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo of France and No. 22 Zheng Jie of China.
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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