Intro:

Top-ranked Serena Williams breezes past Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-2 at the WTA Italian Open on Wednesday.

Script:

Sara Errani produced the biggest cheer of the day in Rome on Wednesday when she knocked Ekaterina Makarova out of the Italian Open.

Petra Cetskova awaits Errani in the next round.

But the home crowd were disappointed when Italian wild card Camila Giorgi was defeated by American qualifier Christina McHale.

Serena Williams proved too strong for Andrea Petkovic.

Williams raced in to a 3-0 lead before taking the set 6-2.

Defending champion Williams continued to break her German opponent in the second.

Williams showed no signs of the thigh injury that caused her to withdraw in Madrid.

A fifth ace of the match wrapped up the victory.

Williams plays fellow American Varvara Lepchenko in the next round, whom she defeated in straight sets in their only previous encounter in Brisbane in 2013.