{blackbabes} Williams through to 3rd round at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Serena Williams gave her injured left ankle another workout at the Australian Open on Thursday, beating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-4 in a second-round match.

The 12th-seeded Williams raced to a 4-0 lead in 12 minutes and took the first set in 22. She was cruising at 5-2 in the second set until the Czech player broke back in the ninth game. After falling behind 40-0 in the last game, she won five straight points to seal it.

A five-time Australian Open champion, Williams turned over on her ankle in a match at the Brisbane International nearly two weeks ago. On Thursday, as in her first match, she appeared to move around the court on Rod Laver Arena freely and without pain.