Italian Open: Serena commences clay-court season with thumping win

World number one Serena Williams has started her clay-court season in dominant style, beating Anna-Lena Friedsam in straight sets in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday.

Williams, who missed the Madrid Open last week due to a fever, recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win over the 51st-ranked rival to reach the third round of the women's singles event.

Reflecting on how the match unfolded, the 21-time Grand Slam champion said she was happy with her level and consistency shown in the game, Sport24 reported.

Williams hasn't won a title since a hard-court event in Cincinnati last August. She was the runner-up in this year's Australian Open and Indian Wells Masters.

Earlier, Eugenie Bouchard upset former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the first round.

World No 46 Bouchard took nearly two hours to beat the Serbian for the third time in four career meetings.

The victory, which came off a disappointing first-round loss last week in Madrid, was Bouchard’s second win over a top-25 player this year. Jankovic is ranked No. 25.

Bouchard next faces No. 2-ranked Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber of Germany.