Superstar Serena Williams moved another step closer to tennis history as she opened her fourth decade as a professional with a straight-sets win over Camila Giorgi in Auckland.
In her first match on tour since she contested an astonishing 33rd Grand Slam final at the 2019 US Open, Serena took just over an hour to overcome the Italian qualifier 6-3 6-2.
It marked her fifth win in five matches against the 99th-ranked Giorgi.
"(I) spent a long time off from tournament play, match play, so solid is pretty good. It’s a great start to build on,” Williams said.
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The 38-year-old is using the New Zealand event to prepare for the Australian Open, where a 24th major title would draw her level with all-time Grand Slam record holder Margaret Court.
Williams is a seven-time champion in Melbourne, lifting her first Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 2003 and most recently triumphing with victory over sister Venus in the 2017 final.
In Auckland, Williams drew on her renowned power as she closed with her eighth ace against Giorgi.
While her ground strokes were erratic early on, Williams' serving was vastly superior to her Italian opponent, who dictated some rallies with her own power game but never came to grips with the conditions.
Williams said playing a doubles match the previous evening with her close friend Caroline Wozniacki provided an advantage against the Italian, who pushed her close at Wimbledon last year.
"I've always had really tough matches against Giorgi. The doubles really helped because got to come out here and play a little bit in these conditions and get used to them," Williams told Sky Sport NZ.
"It's really good to know that I still have some power left in my arm and my legs and everything. It felt really good."
World No.10 Williams moved well, although appeared to suffer a minor right ankle injury which prompted her to apply tape there early in the second set.
Serena will next face fellow American Christina McHale for a place in the quarterfinals.
There, there is the possibility of a meeting with 15-year-old rising star Coco Gauff, who overcame Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3 6-1 in the opening round on Monday.