S. Williams easily wins first-rounder

LONDON, June 22 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Serena Williams didn't face a break point in taking a first-round win Monday at the Wimbledon Championships in London.

Williams, who lost in last year's Wimbledon final to her sister, broke out fast and dominated Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5. Williams had 31 winners, including nine aces. She lost just nine points on serve in the match.

Three other Top 10 seeds advanced Monday. No. 4-seeded Elena Dementieva rolled over Alla Kudryavtseva 6-4, 6-1; eighth-seeded Victoria Azarenka was ahead 6-2 when Severine Bremond Beltrame retired; and 10th-seeded Nadia Petrova blitzed Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-1 in 46 minutes.

Maria Sharapova, coming back from shoulder surgery, didn't play completely sharp but overcame five service breaks with seven of her own in a 7-5, 6-4 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova.

No. 14-seeded Dominika Cibulkova was a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Julie Coin and 16th-seeded Zheng Jie slipped by Kristina Barrois 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4). That two-set match took 2 1/2 hours to complete.