Serena Williams Wins at Stanford

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/ Getty

(July 11, 2012)--Serena Williams marched to an easy 6-2, 6-1 victory over Nicole Gibbs at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California today.

Wearing a neon top, neon shoe laces, and black shorts instead of her Wimbledon whites, the 14-time Grand Slam champion was broken while leading 5-0 in the 2nd set against Gibbs, after saving the first five break points she faced.

Williams also had to have her right ankle area looked at by a trainer during the match, but other than that, the victory was routine.

Gibbs, the NCAA singles and doubles champion this spring, won her first professional match when she defeated Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand, 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday. “I am so in awe of her, she is one of my idols,” Gibbs said of Williams during a press conference yesterday.

Mallory Burdette, Gibbs’ doubles partner at Stanford and also a wildcard in the draw, will be in action tomorrow against 2009 champion Marion Bartoli.

Elsewhere, fifth-seeded Yanina Wickmayer defeated Heather Watson, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, while sixth-seeded Chanelle Scheepers defeated qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito, 6-3, 6-4.