By Chris Oddo | Friday, January 22, 2016
Serena Williams blasted past 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina in 45 minutes.
Photo Source: Corleve
Serena Williams reached the second week at the Australian Open with a clinical 6-1, 6-1 takedown of promising youngster Daria Kasatkina of Russia.
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The American struck early and never gave the world No. 69 a chance to get her feet beneath her. Williams whacked 27 winners against just 8 unforced errors in the 44-minute encounter. She dropped just two points on serve and allowed Kasatkina a total of 18 points in the match.
Williams will next face Russian Margarita Gasparyan in the round of 16. The 21-year-old took out Yulia Putintseva, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the round of 16 at a major for the first time.
The six-time Australian Open champion improves to 71-9 in Melbourne with the victory. She is bidding to tie Steffi Graf on the WTA’s all-time Open Era major titles list with 22 this season.