Serena launches tennis defense in decisive style

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

MIAMI (AFP) — Serena Williams launched her WTA title defense at the Sony Ericsson Open Friday with a confident victory over unseeded Romanian Edina Gallovits.

Williams, seeded eighth, needed just 54 minutes to dismiss Gallovits 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round of the tournament, which also features an ATP Masters Series tournament.

Like all 32 seeded players, Williams enjoyed a first-round bye. Her victory took her record in Miami to 42-5, including her victory over world number one Justine Henin in last year's final.

Williams, 26, also won three straight titles here from 2002-04 and was a runner-up to older sister Venus Williams in 1999.

The former world number one and eight-time Grand Slam champion never faced a break point against Gallovits as...