Serena Williams overcomes Anabel Medina Garrigues in third round

Serena Williams has booked a spot in the Rome Open quarter-finals following a comfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues.

The number nine seed eased through the first set without much challenge from her Spanish opponent, who failed to answer the American's powerful shots across the clay court.

Williams refused to lose control of the clash and continued to dominate Garrigues, who fell apart in the second set and couldn't hold on to her service games.

It was a swift victory for Williams, who managed to blast into the quarter-finals after a convincing performance in Italy.