Serena in no mood to linger against Czink

Published on Thursday 3 September 2009 09:35

DEFENDING champion Serena Williams powered her way into the US Open third round with a quickfire victory over Hungary's Melinda Czink.

Williams, bidding for a fourth US Open title and 12th grand slam of her career, took just 53 minutes to use her renowned heavy hitting and blast her way past the hapless Czink 6-1, 6-1. Williams will next play Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain in round three.

In the other quarter of Serena's half of the draw, her sister Venus stayed on course with a battling 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Belgium's Clijsters, playing for the first time in New York since winning the women's singles title in 2005, having retired to start a family the following year, continued to show she is a dangerous wild card entry as she knocked out 14th seed Marion Bartoli of France 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.

There were still more seeds making early exits from the women's draw, though, as No.12 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland fell prey to Russia's Maria Kirilenko, ranked 59 in the world, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Also out was France's Amelie Mauresmo, the 17th seed, beaten soundly by Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-0, having been 4-3 up in the opening set.

Meanwhile, Italy's Flavia Pennetta, seeded tenth, needed just 50 minutes to record the first "double bagel" of the tournament, beating India's Sania Mirza 6-0, 6-0.