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WIMBLEDON, England — It wasn’t exactly smooth and efficient, but Serena Williams got the job done.
She opened her chase for her 24th Grand Slam singles title with a rusty 6-2, 7-5 victory over the unheralded Italian qualifier Giulia Gatto-Monticone on Tuesday afternoon on Centre Court.
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion who is hoping to ease her way into form after struggling with injuries for much of this season, faced an opponent tailor-made for the circumstance. Gatto-Monticone, 31, was making just her second appearance in a major tournament. Her first came this summer, at the French Open, where she lost in the opening round.