World number one eases past Vania King at US Open

Serena Williams cruised past Vania King to maintain her record of having never been eliminated before the third round at the US Open.

The world number one, bidding for her 23rd grand slam, eased to a 6-3 6-3 victory over fellow American King at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.

Williams dropped just one game in her only previous meeting with King – at Flushing Meadows in 2014 – and while that changed, the result was never in doubt.

The 34-year-old hit 19 winners in the first set as she dominated with her power, before cruising through the second.

The match was complete in just 64 minutes, with Swede Johanna Larsson awaiting Williams in the third round.

With her win, Williams tied Martina Navratilova's professional-era record of 306 grand-slam match victories.

Williams has only lost before the fourth round once at the US Open, and that came in her maiden appearance in 1998.

A six-time champion in New York, Williams looks set to be hard to beat once more.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Williams [1] bt King 6-3 6-3

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORSWilliams – 38/28King – 4/11

ACESWilliams – 13King – 1

BREAK POINTS WON Williams – 3/9King – 0/0

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Williams – 68King – 66

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVEWilliams – 83/47King – 68/33

TOTAL POINTS Williams – 65King – 49