Serena, playing only her third competitive match in the last year due to injury and health scares - was given a tough test by Aravane Rezai of France in their first-round encounter.

Rezai pushed Serena hard and managed to take the second-set from the American after going toe-to-toe and trading heavy groundstrokes with the 8th seed.

Serena called on all her fighting qualities and swept aside the challenge of Rezai in the third set, winning it comfortably and secured her place in round two with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory.

As soon as Serena had secured the win, she was visibly moved on Centre Court and broke down in tears.

"To come back at Wimbledon and win is just awesome," she told BBC Sport.

"This was probably the most emotional I've gotten after a match, after a win. For me it wasn't about winning the match, it was about being out there.

"I finally was in a position that I could have given up, I couldn't have come here, I could have sat home and said I've had a fabulous career and I don't have to work extra hard now.

"But it just really goes to show if you don't give up, you still have a chance."

Maria Sharapova is the only other woman in the draw other than the Williams sisters to have won the Wimbledon title and she is also through to the second round after a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory over compatriot Anna Chakvetadze.

Li Na, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka are also through.