Serena Williams opens clay season with routine win in Rome

If Venus Williams wins her match against Elise Mertens, the Williams sisters will meet in the second round.

In men's action, Borna Coric rallied past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 in a matchup of two of the top young players on tour. Auger-Aliassime struggled with his serve, hitting seven double-faults to Coric's one.

Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco also had to come from behind to beat Kyle Edmund 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Verdasco will next face fifth-seeded Dominic Thiem. Also, Laslo Djere defeated Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-4.

Others advancing on the women's side included Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta, Dominika Cibulkova, Katerina Siniakova and Yulia Putintseva.

AP