Serena brushes aside injury to play at Open

MELBOURNE: Serena Williams took the court Thursday at the Australian Open for her second round clash with Spain's Garbine Muguruza despite rolling her ankle in her first match this week.

The world number three and hot tournament favourite twisted her right ankle during a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Romania's Edina Gallovits-Hall on Tuesday and needed treatment.

The injury clearly restricted her movement and she shifted a scheduled training session from court 17 to the indoor facility at Melbourne Park away from prying eyes on Wednesday, fuelling speculation about the injury.

But Williams, who has admitted she's eyeing the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1988, appeared on Rod Laver Arena and appeared to be moving freely. (AFP)