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| Serena Williams of the U.S. hits a return during her second round women's singles match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain on the fourth day of 2013 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 17, 2013. Serena Williams won 2-0. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei) |
MELBOURNE, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tournament-favourite Serena Williams shook off an ankle injury to take a solid 6-2, 6-0 victory and reach the third round of the Australian Open here on Thursday.
Williams badly twisted her right ankle while running wide for a forehand in the first-round match against Edina Gallovits-Hall. But after lying on the ground for a good two minutes, Williams was able to get up, limp back to the chair and have her ankle rewrapped.
Thursday's match saw the American third seed moving freely in a solid workout against Spainsh teenager Garbine Muguruza.
"It's feeling better," the 15-time Grand Slam winner said of the heavily wrapped ankle. "I did everything I could, from icing to massage, and woke up this morning and it was like 'my God, it feels good.'"
Williams, who has admitted she was eyeing the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1988, will next play against Japan's Ayumi Morita, who beat German Annika Beck 6-2, 6-0.
If the draw goes to plan Williams is scheduled to meet defending champion and world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals.
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