Serena Williams produced a statement performance on Monday at Rod Laver Arena to move into the second round of Australian Open 2021.

SCOREBOARD: Serena Williams d Laura Siegemund

And it was a statement in every way possible, from the outfit she emerged onto court wearing, to her response to getting broken in the very first game, to the scoreline at the end of the 56-minute rout.

Williams, the 10th seed, dismissed Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-1 set up a clash with Nina Stojanovic, a straight-sets winner against Irina-Camelia Begu.

"This was a good start. Definitely vintage 'Rena,” the 39-year-old American said. "It's definitely good. I think I'm pretty good at pacing myself in a Grand Slam.

“I was happy just to get through it. Wasn't sure how my serve would be after a little bit of that shoulder, but it's feeling good, I'm feeling good. So it felt really good.

"Last year was very crazy for the world, and to be able to do what I love and to be able to come out and compete and play at a Grand Slam, after the last 12 months, it makes me appreciate the moment even more."

Siegemund threatened to be a tricky opening assignment for Williams; ranked as high as 27th in August 2016, she won her biggest career title in Stuttgart the next year, defeating three top-10 opponents along the way.

She sustained a serious knee injury shortly after that zenith, which kept her off tour for almost 12 months. But she has since worked her way back inside the top 50, and is one of the game’s grittiest competitors.

The problem was, she encountered a player with an even greater competitive reputation, and was promptly put in her place.