Williams cracks 500th win to reach third round

Jan 19, 2012, 5:46 GMT

Melbourne - Serena Williams overcame a lack of recent match practice as the five-time champion powered into the third round of the Australian Open 6-0, 6-4 over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova on Thursday.

Williams, playing the event for the first time since her 2010 title, won the 500th match of her career as she went past the Czech in 68 minutes as she played only her second match since rolling her ankle in Brisbane on January 4. Before that, she last appeared on court when she lost the US Open final to Australian Samantha Stosur.

The 12th seed received an ankle scare when she served for the match leading 5-3, but dusted herself off and hobbled back into action to close out the victory. 'I just have really wobbly ankles,' she said. 'I wasn't meant to be a ballerina or anything.'

Williams said she had realised she was approaching the 500 mark a few weeks ago and was determined to nose over the line.

'It's like the ultimate, it's really, really cool. The first thing I asked, of course, 'Is there anyone that achieved 1,000?' I guess not. I never will get there either. 'But 500 is a lot of matches to play, let alone to win.'