Serena Williams (R) shakes hands with Coco Vandeweghe after their match on the second day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship.NEW YORK: Serena Williams advanced into the second round of the US Open today while sister Venus clocked the fastest women's serve on her way through, reported Reuters.

Serena, despite being seeded only fourth at Flushing Meadows, is in no doubt she is the world's best player.

"Of course I believe that," said Serena after powering to a 6-1 6-1 win over Coco Vandeweghe after less than an hour on court. "I think there's a number of players on this tour, a few players who believe that.

"I don't care about the ranking. I've been number one. It's cool. But my thing is just to be the best player. If that means I'm winning and I'm not number one, that's fine."

Serena said it was difficult to gauge her form because the strong wind inside Arthur Ashe Stadium made it difficult to find her rhythm.

"I usually gauge the wind by my hair," she said. "If it's really going forward I'm thinking, it's really windy.

"I mean, the match was so weird, the conditions were so tough, I couldn't really play my game. It's not the best opportunity to grade yourself."

Serena will meet Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the second round.

Her one-sided victory came after sister Venus defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands  in straight sets, leading the older Williams to predict a return to the top 10.

Venus landed a first serve of 124 mph during her 6-3 6-1 demolition of her fellow American to set up a re-match with the woman who beat her in the third round of the Olympics, Germany's sixth seed Angelique Kerber, who eased past Britain's Ann Keothavong 6-2 6-0.

The former world number one has fallen to 46th on the rankings but claimed she had the weaponry to return to the elite.

"I'm looking forward to the top 10, all that great stuff," the 32-year-old Venus said. "I feel like I have it in me."

The seven-times major champion produced a vintage serving display against Mattek-Sands and said the importance placed on her delivery occasionally came at the detriment of the rest of her game.

Williams won 83 per cent of the points on her first serve and clubbed 22 winners in a powerhouse performance.

"My serve is huge - it's such a huge part of my game," she said. "When there's a big point, I'm thinking my serve is going to help me every time. I get so involved in my serve I forget to play the rest of the point.

"When your serve is on, the rest of your game is beautiful."

Former world number one Caroline Wozniaki hampered by a knee problem, was a first round casualty on day two of action in New York.

The eighth-seeded Wozniacki never broke the serve of world number 96 Irina-Camelia Begu  of Romania and lost 6-2 6-2.

"You always want to go in and do your best no matter what's happening out there," Wozniacki said. "I tried. I didn't play particularly well, made too many errors.

"It's unfortunate because it's a huge tournament, a tournament you want to play well in."

 

- mD

 

 

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