“This year the Olympics are in China, and with a view to that, I am playing more singles. Winning a Grand Slam is also important, but since this is the year of the Olympics, that is probably my priority for the year,” she added.

There was no good news on the Indian side, though, as wild card Isha Lakhani won only four games in her 6-2, 6-2 loss to Romania’s Agnes Szatmari.

Seventh seed Vera Zvonareva fought off a tough challenge from Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu, coming back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. In another Russian-Chinese battle, this one ending with a Russian victory, Anastasia Rodionova defeated Tiantian Sun 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Williams stutter, but through

Their outfits were impeccable, as always. Their game, however, could have done with a bit more work. Venus and Serena Williams stuttered past Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn and Andrea Ehritt-Vanc of Romania in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-4, but it was a bumpy ride all the way.

Tamarine had to duck to avoid a Venus ace in the match’s opening point, but the encounter was certainly not one of a Williams domination. Serena, in particular, was error-prone, and the duo found themselves 3-0 down before the resurgence began.