American Venus Williams eased into the third round
of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Chinese amateur Peng Shuai
Thursday.
The eighth-seeded Williams made a nervous start when she dropped her
opening service game but quickly stamped her authority on the match to
seal victory in one hour, 12 minutes.
Williams won the Wimbledon and US Open titles in 2000 and 2001 but has
not won a grand slam title since and her last appearance in a final was at
the 2003 Australian Open when she lost to her sister Serena.
Her next match
is against Anna Smashnova Saturday after the Israeli beat Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight
sets.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-20 15:51
