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MELBOURNE - DEFENDING champion Serena Williams delivered an ominous warning to rivals eyeing her Australian Open crown when she swatted aside China's Meng Yuan to reach the third round on Wednesday.
A fired-up Williams attacked ferociously as she dispatched the plucky Chinese qualifier 6-3, 6-1 in one hour 12 minutes.
The muscular American displayed a brand of fist-pumping aggression that was missing from her tentative opening match, receiving a code violation for swearing in jubilation after blasting down a powerful backhand winner.
Williams broke Meng's serve early and lifted her intensity when the Chinese world number 121 immediately broke back, displaying the same intimidating manner that clinched her stunning victory here last year.
Meng gamely engaged Williams in the rallies but could do little in the face of an onslaught from the 26-year-old eight-time Grand Slam winner.
Williams, seeded seventh this year, will be happy with the improvement on an opening performance she described as 'scratchy', sending down four aces and hitting 35 winners.
But will still be aiming to fine tune her radar after 18 unforced errors.
She will meet 26th seed Victoria Azareka of Belarus in the third round and faces a possible meeting with third seed Jalena Jankovic in the quarter-finals. -- AFP
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