WATCH: Easy day for Serena in Melbourne
Dominant world number one Serena Williams added a rare around-the-net shot to her repertoire Wednesday as she steam-rolled Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei on her way into the Australian Open third round.
The six-time Melbourne Park winner and defending champion, who is gunning to equal Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles, blitzed Hsieh 6-1, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
She next faces Russian Daria Kasatkina with a potential quarter-final clash against arch-rival Maria Sharapova awaiting.
"She was definitely a tricky opponent but it was a good match for me to play someone like that. I needed that," said Williams, who made her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne in 1998.
Williams said she was pleased by her consistency and lack of errors, but possibly the first around-the-net she has ever played was a highlight.
"You know, it's always cool to do something fresh and new," she said of the shot.
"I don't know if I have done that. I could be wrong, but I definitely don't remember ever hitting a shot like around the net. So it was good."
On paper, the 90th-ranked Taiwanese was no match for Williams. She reached the tournament second week as a qualifier in 2008, but had only won two matches here since.
Williams though was taking nothing for granted in only her second tour-level match since the US Open in September.
Williams won three majors -- the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon -- last year which took her to within one of Graf's long-time record of 22.
She claimed her first Australian Open in 2003, beating sister Venus in the final, and reached her sixth last year when she toppled Sharapova.
AFP
WATCH: Highlights - Serena Williams vs Hsieh Su-wei