Serena fights back in China, Cilic also through

September 30, 2014 00:00:00

BEIJING: Serena Williams of US returning to Silvia Soler Espinosa of Spain during their women\'s singles first round match at the China Open tennis tournament in the National Tennis Centre here Monday. Serena Williams won 7-5, 6-2. — AFP Photo

BEIJING, Sept 29 (AFP): US Open Champions Serena Williams and Marin Cilic powered through their openers at the $5.4 million China Open Monday, with the women's number one crushing her opponent after being 5-0 down.

Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa looked to be cruising to a memorable victory against the power-hitting American in Beijing as she raced to a five-game advantage within twenty minutes.

But Williams' response was ruthless, taking seven consecutive games to clinch the set with an incredible show of force.

A startled Soler-Espinosa took two games in the following set, but the number one seed in Beijing closed in on victory within 73 minutes with a 7-5, 6-2 scoreline.

It was a devastating comeback and a clear statement of intent from Williams, who fell at the first hurdle at the Wuhan Open last week after retiring from her game with a viral illness.

The reigning champion in Beijing won her sixth US Open earlier this month, the 18th Grand Slam title of her career.

Elsewhere in Beijing, seeds Lucie Safarova and Ana Ivanovic made it through their first-round matches.

Serb Ivanovic, a former world number one, defeated Switzerland's Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.