MELBOURNE, Australia – Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams breezed into the second week Down Under, defeating countrywoman Nicole Gibbs, 6-1, 6-3.
While Serena was celebrating her 19th anniversary of the first time she played on Rod Laver Arena (1998, against sister Venus), Gibbs was not only making her debut on Melbourne’s biggest court, but she was also in the midst of a career-best result Down Under – knocking out No.25 seed Timea Babos and Irina Falconi earlier this week.
The former World No.1 came into Saturday’s match well-tested with wins over a pair of former Top 10 players in Belinda Bencic and Lucie Safarova, and was in imperious form from start to finish.
Looming in the next round is No.16 seed, Czech veteran Barbora Strycova.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Serena Williams of the United States serves in her third round match against Nicole Gibbs of the Unites States on day six of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, Australia – La seis veces campeona del Abierto de Australia, Serena Williams, entró en la segunda semana derrotando a su compatriota Nicole Gibbs, 6-1, 6-3.
Mientras que Serena estaba celebrando su 19 aniversario desde la primera vez que jugó en Rod Laver Arena (1998, contra su hermana Venus), Gibbs no sólo estaba haciendo su debut en la corte más grande de Melbourne, sino que también estaba en medio de su mejor resultado de la carrera Down Under – habiendo dejado afuera a las No.25 semillas Timea Babos e Irina Falconi a principios de esta semana.
Por su párte la ex No. 1 del mundo, Serena Williams entró en el partido del sábado bien probada con victorias sobre un par de ex jugadores del Top 10, Belinda Bencic y Lucie Safarova, y estuvo dominante de principio a fin.
Su rival en la siguiente ronda es la preclasificada No.16, la veterana checa Barbora Strycova.