Merciless Serena lays down the gauntlet

Williams sent out a clear message that anyone who wants to lift the trophy, will have to get past her to do so.

MELBOURNE, January 21, 2010 (AFP) - Defending champion Serena Williams laid down the gauntlet to her rivals at the Australian Open by mercilessly crushing Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 Thursday.

The 19-year-old Kvitova matched it with Williams for five games in the first set before the world number one stepped up a gear and blitzed her way through the rest of the match, winning a lopsided encounter in only 67 minutes.

Much of the talk at this year's tournament has been about the return of Belgian pair Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin and how either of them could win the opening Grand Slam of 2010.

But Williams, a four-time titalist here, sent out a clear message that anyone who wants to lift the trophy, including older sister Venus, will have to get past her to do so.

And the world number one warned she would only get better from here.

"I thought today was a little bit better than my match in my first round," Williams said after her second round match.

"I felt like I was moving better and I had better energy -- just felt all around a lot better.

"(But) I felt like I could have actually played a lot better today.

"If I play well I'm really tough to beat -- I still definitely feel that way."

Kvitova started the match positively, attacking her more illustrious opponent whenever she could and hitting the ball with power and precision.

Williams relished the challenge, however, and the young Czech player soon found the ball coming back at her just as powerfully with even more precision.

She coped for a while but inevitably cracked, and from then on it was a matter of how long it would take for Williams to close it out.

Williams now has a chance to avenge sister Venus's second round loss at the last year's Australian Open when she faces tricky left-handed Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round.

"She's really good," she said of the Spaniard. "She has so much talent.

"I know she took out Venus around this time last year, if I'm not mistaken.

"I would hate to see it become a habit for her, taking out a sister this time every year, so I have to be ready."

Williams, who lost to Clijsters in the semi-finals of last year's 2009 US Open, added that the return of the two Belgian stars had provided women's tennis with a huge boost.

"I'm so happy to see Henin back and doing well, she's such a good player and a fighter," Williams said.

"I think she brings just a totally different theme to the game.

"Obviously Kim is fun to have back on the tour, and her winning the US Open is awesome.

"I think it's great to have these ladies back. It's fun."

Williams -- the winner here in 2003, 2005, 2007. 2009 -- is gunning for a 12th Grand Slam title to match the exploits of the legendary Billie Jean King.

Only a few select women, including Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, have won more major championships.