Venus Williams has breezed through to the second round of Australian Open 2009 with little fuss, brushing past German Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-3 on Hisense Arena.
The No. 6 seed put on a familiar display of power serving, landing seven aces and winning 66 per cent of points on her first serve.
Williams raced out to an early lead in the first set, winning the first five games before Kerber could register on the scoreboard.
The damage was done, though, and the American served out the set 6-3.
The second set contained more challenges for Williams.
Kerber started to find the lines with her groundstrokes, sending a handful of winners past Williams.
She broke for 3-1 after Venus pushed a backhand volley wide, and in the next game had points for a 4-1 lead.
The German’s resistance was short-lived, however; a loose game allowed Williams back into the set.
The American didn’t look back, reeling off the last three games and sealing the match with a trademark backhand down the line on match point.
Williams’s win sets up a meeting with surprise 2008 French Open quarterfinalist Carla Suarez Navarro – a straight-sets winner over Roberta Vinci.
Quick facts
Williams hit 28 winners to 20 unforced errors
Kerber's average second serve was only 130km/h
Williams approached the net 28 times, winning 71 per cent of points
Kerber converted both of her break points
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