Serena Williams cruises in rout

LONDON -- Five-time champion Serena Williams wasted no time in reaching the third round at Wimbledon, routing Chanelle Scheepers 6-1, 6-1 on Thursday in just 49 minutes.

Chasing her 18th Grand Slam title, the top-seeded American overwhelmed the 94th-ranked South African in the opening match on Court 1 at the All England Club.

Williams served eight aces and had 26 winners.

The 30-year-old Scheepers, who had never won a match at Wimbledon until this week, had only five winners to go with 13 unforced errors.

Williams, coming off a second-round loss at the French Open, is playing in her 15th Wimbledon and 56th Grand Slam tournament.