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Tennis-Serena routs Safarova to reach third round

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Serena Williams charged into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with an emphatic 6-3 6-4 win over Czech Lucie Safarova. The second seeded American, bidding for a seventh title at Melbourne Park, served up a storm, clubbing 15 aces and 35 winners in the 86-minute contest under the lights at Rod Laver Arena. Williams blew two match points in an uncharacteristic lapse but closed it out on the third with a searing forehand down the line that Safarova did well to get a racket to. Williams next faces compatriot Nicole Gibbs for a place in the fourth round. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)