Toronto, Canada: World number one Serena Williams rallied to advance to the third round of the WTA Rogers Cup on Tuesday by defeating Italy's Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.


Serena Williams of the USA plays a shot against Flavia Pennetta of Italy during Day 2 of the Rogers Cup at the Aviva Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Pic/AFP 

It was the 725th career match triumph for Williams, who withdrew from last week's Stanford event with a right elbow injury but launched her US Open hardcourt warm-up campaign successfully.