News Sports Tennis Australian Open 2017: Serena Williams progresses to 2nd round, Andy Murray wins first match

Australian Open 2017: Serena Williams progresses to 2nd round, Andy Murray wins first match

Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams progressed to the second round of the Australian Open 2017 with a straight-set win over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic on Tuesday. The American, 35, won 6-4 6-3 in one

Serena Williams progresses to 2nd round, Andy Murray wins first match Serena Williams progresses to 2nd round, Andy Murray wins first match

Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams progressed to the second round of the Australian Open 2017 with a straight-set win over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic on Tuesday.

The American, 35, won 6-4 6-3 in one hour and 19 minutes against the 19-year-old in Melbourne, BBC Sport reported.

The world number two, who is chasing a record 23rd singles Grand Slam title, said she "has nothing to lose".

"Every match I'm playing for fun. I get to travel the world and do what I do best - play tennis," she added.

Williams will face Lucie Safarova in the second round after the 29-year-old Czech beat Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-1.

Earlier in the day, British tennis player Andy Murray defeated Illya Marchenko of Ukraine in the first game of the Australian Open.

The world number 1 outplayed his Ukrainian opponent 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena here.

Five-time finalist in this tournament, Murray competes for the 12th time in the prestigious tournament.

A recent finalist in Doha against Serbian Novak Djokovic, Murray will now face Russian Andrey Rublev, who ascended from the preliminary phase.