Serena Williams of the US reacts during her second round singles match against Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan 22, 2020. (DITA ALANGKARA / AP)

MELBOURNE - Serena Williams overcame an erratic performance at the Australian Open on Wednesday to beat Slovenian Tamara Zidansek 6-2 6-3 and advance to the third round.

Serena Williams clinched the victory with a cross-court forehand winner to set up a meeting with China’s Wang Qiang

The 38-year-old American, who is bidding for a record 24th Grand Slam singles title, was hardly troubled in the first set as she broke Zidansek twice to wrap up the opener in just over half an hour.

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But the 70th-ranked Zidansek put up an impressive defense in the second set, saving seven break points as an increasingly frustrated Williams racked up more than a dozen unforced errors.

Zidansek, however, could not keep up the resistance and Williams clinched the victory with a cross-court forehand winner to set up a meeting with China’s Wang Qiang.