Hobart, January 8:

Six-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams cruised into the second round of the Hobart WTA International with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Swede Sofia Arvidsson on Monday.

Australia’s Alicia Molik overcame a slow start before advancing to the second round with a three-set win over Croatian Jelena Kostanic. Molik, who required a wildcard to make the main draw, won 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Kostanic blasted her way to three service breaks and the first set before Molik began her fightback. The Australian took control early in the second set and dominated from there, Kostanic managing to hold service just three times in the final two sets.

Defending champion Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands became the first major casualty when beaten by France’s Severine Bremond, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Sania Mirza of India beat Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-4, 6-4.

Other first round winners include Catalina Castano of Colombia, Romina Oprandi of Italy, Mara Santangelo of Italy, Sybille Bammer of Austria, Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic, Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, Zheng Jie of China, Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine, Vasilisa Bardina of Russia, Aiko Nakamura of Japan.