Serena Williams celebrated her 100th consecutive week as world number one by taking a step closer to another milestone in the Australian Open.
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 number 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 was a 6-1 6-4 winner over Richel Hogenkamp, while sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska saw off Kurumi Nara 6-3 6-0.
Eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki progressed past Taylor Townsend on a 7-6 (7/1) 6-2 scoreline, but faces a tricky encounter in the last 64.
Wozniacki will take on two-time winner Victoria Azarenka on Thursday 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.”
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."
Madison Brengle defeated 13th seed Andrea Petkovic 5-7 7-6 (7/4) 6-3, Italy’s Camila Giorgi beat compatriot and 12th seed Flavia Pennetta 4-6 6-2 6-3 and a resurgent Timea Bacsinszky impressed in a 6-1 6-4 win over former world number one Jelena Jankovic as a record-equalling 11 seeds fell at the first hurdle in Melbourne.
An apparently unwell Heather Watson crashed out, losing 6-4 6-0 to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.
The British number one came into the year's first Grand Slam event n the back of winning the second WTA Tour title of her career in Hobart on Saturday.
