Serena cruises in Japan's Princess Cup opener

Alastair Himmer, Reuters, Tokyo

World number one Serena Williams demolished Austrian Patricia Wartusch 6-0, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Toyota Princess Cup on Wednesday in her first singles match since winning the US Open.

The American converted three out of three break points as the 2000 Princess Cup champion breezed through the first set in 20 minutes against her unseeded opponent at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Williams, who complained afterwards that it had been difficult motivating herself after beating sister Venus in the US Open final on Sept. 7, was hardly extended in the second set and wrapped up the match in just 50 minutes.

"I was talking to Martina Navratilova today about how after she won all her grand slams, the toughest match was the first match after," said the 20-year-old, who is playing doubles with Navratilova in Tokyo this week.

"I felt it in practice. I haven't even had a week off and I found it very hard to be motivated. Martina said she experienced the same thing and that helped me realize it was normal."

Williams, who has won six WTA titles this season, including the last three grand slams, will play either Ai Sugiyama of Japan or Australian Nicole Pratt next.

Meanwhile, Russian Elena Likhovtseva upset number eight seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. Sixth seed Tatiana Panova of Russia overcame Slovakian Henrieta Nagyova 6-2, 1-6, 6-4, while seventh seed Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand beat Italy's Adriana Serra Zanetti 6-2, 7-6.

Pratt, meanwhile, defeated Gala Leon Garcia of Spain 6-3, 7-6, while Lina Krasnoroutskaya of Russia beat Croatia's Silvija Talaja 6-3, 6-4 to set up a second-round meeting with defending champion Jelena Dokic.

In Quebec City, Canada, American Meghann Shaughnessy opened defense of her title at the WTA Bell Challenge with a hard-fought victory Tuesday over unseeded Alina Jidkova.

The fifth seed Shaughnessy needed three sets to dispatch her Russian opponent, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2).

Top seed Silvia Farina Elia also is looking for her third career title at this hardcourt event. The Italian received a first-round bye and will meet American Laura Granville in the second round.

Third seed Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria defeated South African qualifier Jessica Steck, 6-4, 6-3; Canada's Maureen Drake upset fourth-seeded Anne Kremer, 6-4, 7-5; Russian Anastassia Rodionova rolled past American Jennifer Hopkins, 6-1, 6-1; Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia bounced American Samantha Reeves, 6- 2, 6-3; Germany's Angelika Roesch ousted qualifier Kelly Liggan of Ireland, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); and Dutch qualifier Anousjka Van Exel beat Frenchwoman Emilie Loit, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8).