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)