LONDON (AFP) - Defending champion Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic as her mother watched from the front row of the Royal Box.
The 34-year-old world No. 1, chasing a seventh Wimbledon title and record-equalling 22nd major, took her Grand Slam career record in first rounds to a formidable 63 wins against just one defeat.
But Nick Kyrgios was back in trouble on his return to Wimbledon, as the Australian rowed with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and told his entourage to get out during a stormy 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9-11), 6-1 win over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek on Tuesday.
He has earned a reputation as one of the most volatile players on the men's tour after a series of distasteful antics, including briefly appearing to stop trying during his Wimbledon defeat against Richard Gasquet last year.
Williams next faces fellow American Christina McHale for a place in the last 32.
"My mom was up there in the Royal Box, so that was nice," said the American star after giving mother Oracene Price an afternoon to remember on Centre Court.
"I will have to get my dad out here now."
Williams claimed victory over world No. 148 Sadikovic on a second match point, courtesy of a successful Hawk-Eye challenge.
"I never underestimate any opponent. I always expect the best of myself," added Williams, who won 12 straight points at the start of the match to open a 3-0 lead.
However, not everyone gave her the royal seal of approval.
"It was one of the worst serving efforts I've seen from Serena. This is what is giving other players hope," said US legend John McEnroe, commentating for the BBC.
Meanwhile, the temperamental 21-year-old Kyrgios, who was hit with a US$2,000 (S$2,700) fine for swearing during the same last-16 clash with Gasquet, lost his cool yet again on his first return to the All England Club since that meltdown 12 months ago.
He was warned for bad language by Lahyani following an audible rant that included telling his support team to stop watching him after he lost the third set.
Despite his latest petulant display, Kyrgios insisted he provided great entertainment for fans. "The crowd likes the way I play here, I entertain. I'm comfortable here and they know the tennis I bring every day," he said.
"I knew I had to be on my game, I couldn't lapse at all. It was a tough match."
Kyrgios has struggled to stay out of trouble through his career, so there was plenty of attention on the world No. 18 when he strolled onto Court Two - also the venue for the Gasquet incidents.
He didn't take long to live up to his reputation when he began complaining and audibly groaned "diabolical call" after being told to replay one point in the first set.
Stepanek, the world No. 129, is also known as a difficult personality on court and he apparently recognised a kindred spirit in Kyrgios, offering to help him with his problems this year.
On this evidence, the Czech's advice may not have sunk in yet. Kyrgios was on course for a routine win as he overwhelmed Stepanek with a barrage of winners including a brilliant between-the-legs lob.
But he was broken when serving for the match and then failed to take a match point in the third set tie-break, prompting a stream of invective that ended with the Australian telling his entourage to leave.
"I'm serious, get out, get out," he ranted before being warned for bad language by Lahyani.
He continued to complain to Lahyani throughout the fourth set. "You're telling me that every single person who has said that word in this chair has got a code violation, in the history of tennis," he said.
But, despite the histrionics, Kyrgios was playing some superb tennis and he surged to victory in emphatic fashion.
The 15th seed, hoping to emulate his run to the quarter-finals in 2014, could be facing another financial penalty from All England Club chiefs before he plays German wildcard Dustin Brown for a place in the last 32.
