World number one Serena Williams marked her return to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells with victory after she edged Romanian Monica Niculescu 7-5 7-5 in the second round on Friday.

Williams was making her first appearance at the WTA Premier event since winning the tournament in 2001 after deciding it was time to end her 13-year boycott.

The 19-time grand slam winner had avoided Indian Wells following her treatment prior to the 2001 final, where she was jeered and booed by the crowd.

But Williams enjoyed a heartfelt reception on court, greeted by a standing ovation before she accounted for Niculescu in a little over two hours.

Williams though, found herself trailing 2-0 early in the first set after being broken in the opening game and even faced set point with Niculescu leading 5-4.

However, the American veteran won the final three games to claim the first set.

It was a similar story in the second stanza after Williams was broken in the opening game but the 2015 Australian Open champion was not to be denied a memorable victory.

Next up for Williams is Kazakh 28th seed Zarina Diyas, who disposed of Donna Vekic 6-3 6-3.

Fellow seeds Simona Halep (three), Agnieszka Radwanska (seven), Ekaterina Makarova (eight), Lucie Safarova (10), Carla Suarez Navarro (12), Karolina Pliskova (14), Garbine Muguruza (19), Svetlana Kuznetsova (22), Elina Svitolina (23), Varvara Lepchenko (26) and Timea Bacsinszky (27) also won through to the third round.

Romanian Halep overcame a slow start to beat qualifier Daria Gavrilova 2-6 6-1 6-2 and she will meet American Lepchenko, who defeated countrywoman Sachia Vickery 6-4 6-1.

Radwanska of Poland cruised past Alison Rise 6-3 6-1 to set up a showdown with Heather Watson after the Brit prevailed 7-5 7-5 against Camila Giorgi.

Russian Makarova accounted for compatriot Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-0, with Swiss star Bacsinszky awaiting in the next round.

Bacsinszky - winner of back-to-back tournaments in Mexico prior to arriving at Indian Wells - outlasted Marina Erakovic 4-6 6-3 6-2.

Czech Safarova and Ukrainian Svitolina will meet in the third round after respective victories.

Safarova posted a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win over Mona Barthel, while Svitolina got the better of Alison van Uytvanck 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

Spaniard Suarez Navarro crushed Monica Puig 6-1 6-1.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is her next opponent after the Russian won 6-3 6-3 against Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova.

Spain's Muguruza topped Irina Falconi 4-6 6-2 6-3 to progress to the third round, where she will play Pliskova, who saw off Lara Arruabarrena 6-3 7-5.

As for Russian Kuznetsova, she chalked up a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 win over Katerina Siniakova.

American Sloane Stephens earned a third-round showdown with Kuznetsova via a 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 victory against 13th seed Angelique Kerber.