Madrid Open: Serena Williams advances to 3rd round

Serena Williams in action against Yulia Putintseva, Sunday, May 5, 2013. PHOTO/Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP

(Reuters) – World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her progress at the Madrid Open tennis when she eased past Spanish wild card Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday.

Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams dominated Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs.

Williams, 31, said she had enjoyed the test and the experience would stand her in good stead the next time she came up against a player like the 47th-ranked Spaniard, who likes to mix up her shots.

“I made a lot of errors, but her game kind of forces you to make errors,” Williams told a news conference. “It was a really good clay-court tennis match for me.

“Seeing as I have a few more tournaments on clay, it was perfect to play a match like this, so I know if I face another opponent like that I’ll have that experience and I’ll know how to play.”

A 15-time grand slam singles champion, Williams will play unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic or 13th-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko for a place in the quarter-finals.