Venus Williams ousts Elina Svitolina in Rome

Venus Williams has marched into the third round of the Italian Open thanks to a straight-sets victory over Elina Svitolina.

The American needed just one break of serve in the first set as she closed it out 6-4 with just 34 minutes on the clock.

Despite dropping serve twice in the second, the world number 16 broke her Ukrainian opponent four more times to win 6-4 6-3.

Williams will meet world number two Simona Halep in the last 16 after the Romanian blitzed Alison Riske 6-3 6-0.