The nine-time Grand Slam champion had not participated in the event in 15 years, after she was booed in 2001 along with father Richard after controversially withdrawing from the tournament.

Williams was given a standing ovation prior to the match but the 35-year-old, who is in the twilight of her career, lost the opening set 6-4 after a rain delay had briefly halted play.

Nara dealt with the windy conditions far better throughout the duration of the match and claimed the second set 6-3 to advance to the third round.

Williams’ sister Serena, the world number one, had no such problems as she brushed aside the challenge of German qualifier Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-1.

Both Williams sisters had alleged racist abuse and boycotted the tournament, but the matter has now been resolved with Serena returning to the event in her home country last year.

The Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova endured a tougher than expected second round tie as the two-time Wimbledon champion was forced to battle through a three-set clash with Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.

Kvitova eventually emerged as a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victor to advance, while Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska sealed a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

The top seeds in the men’s competition, including Serbia's defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic, will enter proceedings in the second round.

Britain's world number two Andy Murray is also in the draw, along with Spain's Rafael Nadal and Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev joined them in the second round, as the 18-year-old marked his debut in the main draw with an impressive 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Ivan Dodig.

Fernando Verdasco enjoyed one of the more comfortable matches of the day, as the Spaniard sealed a 7-6, 6-3 win over Canada’s Peter Polansky.