The world No 1 beat Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1 in just 66 minutes on Thursday

Serena Williams eases past Teliana Pereira to reach French Open third round

•  Serena Williams continued her progression with ease at Roland Garros

•  The world No 1 beat Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1 in just 66 minutes on Thursday

•  Williams remains the favourite to lift the trophy for the fourth time

By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association

Defending champion Serena Williams goes into the third round of the French Open having lost just five games in two matches.

The world No 1 raced past Magdalena Rybarikova in round one in just 42 minutes.

She was detained a little longer by Brazil's Teliana Pereira on Thursday but a 6-2, 6-1 victory in 66 minutes was hardly a serious test.

 Serena Wiliams wasted little time in sealing her spot in the third round of the French Open on Thursday

 The world No 1 made light work of Teliana Pereira beating the Brazilian in straight sets in just over an hour

 Williams proved far too strong for her opponent ranked 81 in the world, winning 6-2, 6-1

Pereira, 27, was no match for the American, who is clear favourite to win at Roland Garros for a fourth time

There were questions about Williams' form going in but so far she remains very much the favourite to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

Pereira, ranked 81, has never reached the third round at a slam and that never looked like changing, with Williams taking just 10 minutes to move into a 3-0 lead.

The American should have more of an examination next against either French 26th seed Kristina Mladenovic or Hungary's Timea Babos.