Serena Williams stifled in straight-sets win at Australian Open

Serena Williams began her quest for a sixth Australian Open title with a straight-sets win over Alison Van Uytvanck this morning.

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The American whitewashed the world number 106 in the first set, but was given a sterner test in the second on her way to a 6-0 6-4 victory.

It took the top seed just 21 minutes to claim the opener, taking three of five break points and saving one of her own in the third game.

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Van Uytvanck had been unable to contend with Williams's power game, but proved stronger at the baseline and cut out the errors as she made a contest of it in the second.

The Belgian was also impressive on serve as she prevented her illustrious opponent from having a single break point as the first nine games went with serve.

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Williams needed only one opportunity, though, and sensed blood following a Van Uytvanck error in game 10, securing victory with a winner on a backhand side which had frustrated her for much of the match.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion will face former world number two and two-time Australian Open semi-finalist Vera Zvonareva in the second round.