S. Williams wins first Stanford test

STANFORD, Calif., July 11 (UPI) -- Serena Williams, four days after winning her fifth Wimbledon title, cruised past a second-round opponent Wednesday at the Bank of the West Classic.

Williams, the defending Stanford champion, dismissed 19-year-old American wild card Nicole Gibbs 6-2, 6-1 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

Williams downed No. 2 seed Marion Bartoli in last year's finale. Bartoli will play her second-round match Thursday.

In other action on Day 3, No. 5 seed Yanina Wickmayer rallied for 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 win over Heather Watson and sixth-seeded Chanelle Scheepers beat wild card Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-3, 6-4.