Serena Williams powers on after reaching 100

Serena Williams: Record bid. Picture: Getty

Williams joined Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 grand slam titles with her US Open victory last year and a 19th would take her within three of the record held by Steffi Graf.

The top seed will face far tougher challenges than that posed by Belgian World No 106 Alison van Uytvanck as the tournament progresses, but she was nevertheless delighted to secure a 6-0, 6-4 win on Margaret Court Arena. “I always have first-round jitters and nerves but it’s good to come out here and win today,” said Williams, whose current spell at the top of the rankings started on 18 February, 2013.

“It’s in the back of my mind [a 19th title] but, at the same time, there are so many other players who want to win this tournament as well.

“If I could get to 19 in Australia that would be beyond amazing. I have a lot of work to do but I am just going to enjoy myself.”

Williams’ sister Venus also had no problems in reaching the second round, the 18th seed defeating Spain’s Maria Torro-Flor 6-2 6-2.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska and eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki all eased into the second round without dropping a set.

However, Wozniacki in particular will face a far tougher task in the last 64.

She will take on two-time winner Victoria Azarenka tomorrow after the Belarusian, who is unseeded after a miserable 2014 on and off the court, defeated American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2.

“Being an unseeded player, it’s not a surprise that I have a tough draw or tough opponents in the early round,” Azarenka said. “I just need to go through that. I accept the challenges.

“She [Wozniacki] was showing some great tennis in the end of last year. I know she’s very dangerous. We always had some of tough matches.

“I would like to focus on myself and what I can do to build my game, to prepare as best as I can, and just compete. That’s my key word for this tournament: Compete.”

Wozniacki added: “Yeah, it’s going to be tough. She’s won here before. But at the same time I’m just going to focus on myself, my own game.

“Honestly, whether you have to beat her in the second round or fourth round, it doesn’t matter if you want to win the tournament.”

Defeats for Andrea Petkovic, Flavia Pennetta and Jelena Jankovic made it a record-equalling 11 seeds beaten in the opening round, with former World No 1 Jankovic losing at this stage for the first time in her career at Melbourne.