Defending champion Serena Williams defied high winds to breeze into the Olympic tennis second round Sunday as organisers were blasted for allowing play in conditions described as "ugly".
The 34-year-old world number one, who can take her gold medal count to six if she repeats as singles and doubles champion, defeated Australia's Daria Gavrilova 6-4, 6-2.
Williams, sporting a patriotic Stars and Stripes hairband on centre court, will face either Sweden's Johanna Larsson or Alize Cornet of France.
She will be hoping it is Larsson as Frenchwoman Cornet famously defeated her three times in 2014, including at Wimbledon.
Winds of up to 25km/h caused havoc with tempers as well as with the schedule.
Matches on outside courts were delayed by 90 minutes as gusts buffeted the Barra complex, destroying hoardings and making play on exposed arenas impossible. "It was really intense. I think my last Olympic final four years ago was really windy too," said Williams. "Today they couldn't start the matches on the outside courts. I was a little nervous about that so I was happy to get through." Williams also confirmed that she and sister Venus will play doubles later in the day.
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