Serena Williams powers past Amra Sadikovic in Wimbledon opener

The top seed took an hour and 13 minutes to progress past the Swiss in comprehensive fashion on Centre Court.

The six-time champion at SW19 assumed total control of the match with a 3-0 lead in the opening set and refused to relinquish control at any stage.

Williams will next face compatriot Christine McHale in the second round with Britain's Heather Watson in the same quarter of the draw.

Looking ill-at-ease, as though her quest for an elusive 22nd grand slam title was weighing heavily on her shoulders, Williams struggled with her serve and sprayed balls wide on both sides of the court. She served three double faults in the fifth game of the first set.

It was Williams's first match since she lost the French Open final to Garbine Muguruza this month and the American should have had few problems against Macedonian-born Sadikovic, ranked 148th in the world and with little main tour experience.

By turns urging herself on and telling herself off, Williams eventually secured match point when her opponent just missed a lob and sealed victory after challenging a wrong call when her shot landed on the far baseline.

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Amra Sadikovic (Switzerland) 6-2 6-4

Daria Gavrilova (Australia) beat Wang Qiang (China) 2-6 6-3 6-4

19-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (Croatia) 7-5 6-3

Duan Yingying (China) beat Kristyna Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-3 3-6 7-5

Christina McHale (U.S.) beat Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 7-5 6-2