Defending champion Serena Williams overcame fitness problems to storm into the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The top seed advanced with an effortless 6-2, 6-1 victory over Poland's Urszula Radwanska.

Despite wearing a heavy bandage on her right thigh, Williams was far too powerful for the Polish teenager as she won in one hour and 13 minutes.

"I've been having it strapped all week, all last week as well," Williams said of the bandage at a press conference. "So just keeping it up and making sure I'm able to keep moving as best as I can."

Williams is chasing her fifth Australian Open title after winning in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.