Serene progress for Willams

Williams: Easy opener

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Serena Williams began her US Open title defence with an easy win over fellow American Alexa Glatch.

The number two seed took just an hour and two minutes to wrap up the 6-4 6-1 victory and awaits Melinda Czink in the next round.

Bidding for her 12th major title, Williams came out with real intent and broke her younger compatriot twice as she raced into a 5-2 lead leaving all those on Arthur Ashe debating whether the match would exceed the hour mark.

But the reigning Australian and Wimbledon champion came unstuck in game eight when serving for the set as Glatch snatched a break with a crunching backhand return down the line.

The 105th ranked player then scooped another game, but the 19-year-old's hopes of a comeback were dashed when Williams took the 32 minute set with a booming ace down the tee.

Glatch managed to starve off a breakpoint in the first game of the second set as Williams looked to gain an early advantage - but the younger American was powerless to halt her superior opponent's charge in game three.

Mauresmo progresses

Then onwards it was comprehensive for Williams - the 27-year-old raced through the set and soon sealed the match with her 18th winner of the day.

Earlier in the afternoon, number 15 seed Samantha Stosur was forced the distance in her first round encounter but prevailed to beat Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-4 4-6 6-4.

The big-serving Australian - who is due to meet Williams in the quarter-finals - next squares off against US youngster Vania King.

Russian number seven seed Vera Zvonareva coasted to a 6-0 6-4 win over Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives and will meet Russia's Anna Chakvetadze in round two.

Ameilie Mauresmo made light work of German opponent Tatjana Malek as she booked her spot in the next round with a 6-3 6-4 straight sets victory.

Next up for the former Wimbledon champion is a clash against Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, a 6-1 7-6 (9-7) victor over American Laura Granville.

Number 10 seed Flavia Pennetta also enjoyed an easy opening round match as she dispatched Romania's Edina Gallovits with consumate ease 6-0 6-4.

The in-form Italian will take on Indian Sania Mirza who battled her way through her first round match to beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 3-6 6-3.