Serena motors through to set up Petrova showdown

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) Serena Williams overcame a stuttering start before motoring into the third round of the Australian Open with a 7-6 6-2 win over Luxembourg's Anne Kremer.

The twice former champion slapped a backhand winner to set up a third-round showdown with Russian fifth seed Nadia Petrova.

Unseeded at these championships after her ranking nosedived following an injury-plagued 2006, Williams was left grimacing and yelping in the first set as she dropped her serve to hand Kremer the initiative.

But the American got her act back together and after winning the tiebreak, thundered to a 4-0 lead before sealing the win in 95 minutes.

REUTERS AY BD1130