Serena Williams Wins in Return

Williams, who comes in ranked No.95 (largely due to inactivity) and unseeded, blazed through the first five games of the match before Arvidsson took four in a row herself. However, the more experienced American regained control, claiming the first set and then blanking her opponent in the second.

"I didn't play my best but I'm a little rusty because I haven't played since the US Open, and only played four tournaments last year," Williams said. "Physically right now I'm feeling good. I'm taking it one day at a time. It's a new year and I'm being really positive about it."

Williams played only four tournaments last season, largely due to knee injuries; but she says that now she's feeling her rhythm again, and that her first trip to Hobart has been a good one thus far.

"I love the court - I think it's really romantic, just awesome," Williams added. "When I'm out there I'm feeling so comfortable."

Seven of the eight seeds played their first round matches Monday (top seed Anna Chakvetadze won hers on Sunday). but only four survived. No.2 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues was an easy 61 63 winner over Elena Vesnina; No.5 seed Mara Santangelo ousted Maria Elena Camerin, 75 26 63; No.6 seed Alona Bondarenko had a 62 76(6) victory over Jessica Moore; and No.7 seed Zheng Jie beat Stéphanie Foretz 62 62.

Three other seeds fell, with Aiko Nakamura ousting No.3 seed Flavia Pennetta, 75 75; Sania Mirza powering past No.4 seed Maria Kirilenko, 64 64; and last but not least, Lucie Safarova's 76(5) 62 upset of No.8 seed Martina Müller.

Winners of other matches between non-seeds were Romina Oprandi, Catalina Castaño, Severine Brémond, Sybille Bammer, Vasilisa Bardina and Alicia Molik.

First round action will be completed and the second round will begin on Tuesday at the Tier IV event. Chakvetadze will face the winner of the first round between Olga Poutchkova and Tzipora Obziler in her second round; Williams faces Safarova. (WTA)