[10] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [99] Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Looking as fit as I have seen her in a long time, Serena Williams looks like she is ready to make an early statement this season. In her first-round match against a player that can be dangerous, Williams showed no signs of feeling threatened as she handled the pace comfortably from her Italian opponent.
Williams Led Their Head-to-Head
This was their fifth meeting and Williams continued her dominance over the Italian. There would be no repeat of their last encounter at Wimbledon 2018, where Giorgi took the first set. The American was all business today. Williams saved all three break points against her serve with some stellar serving and defending. There was no apparent rust despite the long layoff for the American, who seemed focused and rearing to get the 2020 season off with a bang.
Giorgi Unable to Change Her Game
Giorgi still has not figured out how to switch her strategy when things are not working, her modus operandi of hitting the ball hard and hitting it even harder when things begin to unravel has not changed. With so much talent, it must get frustrating for her fans when her game goes off the boil. Yet, the fiery Italian remains a threat and she will be looking to get her game going before the first major of the season.
Nice Warm-Up For Serena
Meanwhile, Williams will have to battle another dangerous opponent in the second round. The unpredictable but talented Christina McHale, who is looking to get her 2020 season off to a better start. Williams leads that head-to-head 3:0, but two of those encounters went to three sets. McHale is hoping no doubt that this time around she will be victorious, but Williams is no doubt hoping as well to keep her perfect record against her fellow American.
Everyone is hoping that Williams will win and play the fifteen-year-old phenom, Coco Gauff, in the quarterfinals, but perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves. There is still a lot of tennis to play before that match-up can happen.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: serveandrally originals
