WIMBLEDON: Returning to Grand Slam tennis after a year away with health problems, Serena Williams opened her Wimbledon title defense Tuesday by beating Aravane Rezai in three sets — then burst into tears on Center Court. After serving her 13th ace to close a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory, Serena buried her face in her towel and sobbed from her courtside chair. She was still crying as she left the court, overcome with emotion after enduring a long layoff that included two foot operations and treatment for blood clots in her lungs. “I usually don't cry ... but it's just been so hard,” the four-time Wimbledon champion said. “I never dreamt I would be here right now. And then to win. I just wanted to win at least one match here. “It's been a disaster year, but I've been praying,” Serena said. “To be able to come back at Wimbledon is pretty awesome. I didn't expect to play. And I didn't expect to even do anything. So I'm just excited. I've never cried with joy for anything.” Following Serena on Center Court was Roger Federer, who began his chase for a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon championship by beating Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-2 in the wind. Second-seeded Novak Djokovic, playing for the first time since his 43-match winning streak was stopped by Federer at the French Open, sailed into the second round with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jeremy Chardy of France. Djokovic dropped only 11 points on serve. Meanwhile, the sequel to the longest match in tennis history proved to be a quick, one-sided affair this time. John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (6) in just over two hours — a far cry from their 11-hour, 5-minute marathon over three days last year that Isner finally won 70-68 in the fifth set. After Mahut sailed a forehand long on the second match point in front of a half-empty crowd on Court 3 at 8:30 P.M. local time, the two men — who became close friends after last year's epic — shared a warm embrace at the net. Isner dominated this match, breaking three times and finishing with 41 winners to only 10 unforced errors. Other men's winners included three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro. Among the women, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki made a strong start in her latest bid for her Grand Slam title, while former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic lost in the first round. Federer never lost serve, saving all three break points, and won 29 of 31 of his points on serve in the first set. The third-seeded Swiss piled up 53 winners — 37 more than Kukushkin, who was making his Wimbledon debut. Roddick served 30 aces — including four in a row in one game — and beat German qualifier Andreas Beck 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-3 to reach the second round. Del Potro downed Flavio Cipolla of Italy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. The 24th-seeded Argentine led Cipolla 6-1, 1-3 when rain suspended play Monday, then won 11 of the 15 games played Tuesday. In late men's play, two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling downed Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5). On Court 1, Wozniacki defeated Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain 6-2, 6-1. The 20-year-old Dane had fewer winners than her opponent, but made only five unforced errors. Jankovic was beaten by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The 15th-seeded Serb reached the fourth round at the All England Club last year. French Open champion and third-seeded Li Na, China's first Grand Slam winner, advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Alla Kudryavtseva. Former champion and No. 6 Maria Sharapova beat Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-1. A revitalized Lleyton Hewitt saw off a gritty performance from Japan's Kei Nishikori for a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 win. India's Sania Mirza was also knocked out 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3 to grieving Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, recently bereaved by the death of her fiance. No. 10 Samantha Stosur became the highest seeded player eliminated, falling 6-3, 6-4 to Hungary's Melinda Czink — the lowest-ranked woman in the draw at No. 262. Also advancing among the women were No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, No. 8 Petra Kvitova, No. 11 Andrea Petkovic and No. 14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Men's winners included No. 7 David Ferrer, No. 13 Viktor Troicki, No. 15 Gilles Simon and No. 21 Fernando Verdasco.
