Serena Williams swept past Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic in a battle between two former world No. 1 players in the first round of the Olympic tennis tournament Saturday.
Williams, of the United States, was completely in control on her way to a 6-3, 6-1 win and said she was inspired by the presence of First Lady Michelle Obama at Wimbledon’s Center Court.
"It was great seeing Michelle there. It just made me want to play better and I felt even better,” she said.
“We're here for our country and to play well.”
Both players said that the court was slippery, and Jankovic said it was a factor in her defeat.
“I felt a little bit like on ice and it was difficult to move and be on the ball, especially when you play someone like Serena,” she said.
“You have got to be moving well and you have got to be very solid."
Williams’ next opponent is Britain’s Elena Baltacha, who beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Russia’s Vera Zvonareva reached the second round with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Swedish player Sofia Arvidsson.
Earlier, Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic defeated American player Christina McHale 6-4, 7-5, and Belgium's former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters made her Olympic debut with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Roberta Vinci of Italy.
