Serena bounces back to win opening round

World number one makes ruthless comeback after being 5-0 down

BEIJING: US Open champions Serena Williams and Marin Cilic powered through their openers at the $5.4 million China Open yesterday, with the women's number one crushing her opponent after being 5-0 down.

Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa looked to be cruising to a memorable victory against the power-hitting American in Beijing as she raced to a five-game advantage within twenty minutes.

But Serena's response was ruthless, taking seven consecutive games to clinch the set with an incredible show of force.

A startled Soler-Espinosa took two games in the following set, but the number one seed in Beijing closed in on victory within 73 minutes with a 7-5, 6-2 scoreline.

Serena revealed after her match in Beijing that she had undergone doubts about competing in the China Open, following her illness in Wuhan.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to play or not," said the 33-year-old. "I just started hitting a couple days ago, taking it day by day.

“Finally I decided I'm here, I may as well see what happens. So here I am."

Elsewhere in Beijing, seeds Lucie Safarova and Ana Ivanovic made it through their first-round matches.

In the men's competition, fourth seed Cilic took 81 minutes to dispose of Chinese wildcard Yan Bai 6-3, 6-4.

Former champ Ferrer out of Japan Open

Marcel Granollers knocked fellow Spaniard and former champion David Ferrer out of the Japan Open yesterday in a first-round upset 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The win over the tournament's second seed was the first for Granollers in six meetings with his compatriot, who is ranked fifth in the world.

The early loss is a blow to Ferrer's chances as he fights to qualify for one of five remaining spots at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in November in London.

Ferrer, who also went out in the first round in Shenzhen last week, went down in just over two hours after his serve was broken four times.

"Every day in life is different," said the disappointed Spaniard. "It's impossible to win all the time."

"I'm sad to lose, I need to see what is going on with my game."