The three-time champion was out of sorts in the first set of her opening match against Vitalia Diatchenko.
But Williams regained her composure to record an ultimately comfortable, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0, victory over her Russian opponent.
Speaking on court after the win, Williams opened up about struggling with nerves, a theme she elaborated on in a post-match news conference.
“It was weird. I have been dealing with a lot and then I just got nervous out there and I stopped moving my feet,” she said.
“And I was, like, [I had] concrete blocks on my feet. I was like, ‘You gotta do something’. But compared to other matches, I’m always a little nervous in Grand Slams, especially in the first round.
“I was just making so many errors. Every shot I hit, I felt like I was hitting on my frame. I usually don’t hit balls on my frame. I was just off, basically.
“And then instead of correcting it, I just kept getting worse to be honest. I knew it couldn’t get worse and I knew I could only go up. That’s what I told myself. I just gotta keep positive.
“It was just a strange start to that match for me.”
The 23-time Grand Slam winner has struggled with injuries this season and a knee problem saw her withdraw from the recent Internazionali d’Italia.
Asked if she had thought about skipping the French Open to prepare for Wimbledon, she replied: “It crossed my mind every day, but I’m here, and to do the best that I can do.”
