Flavia Pennetta advances into Serena Williams' path

Italy`s Flavia Pennetta breezed past Canada`s Gabriela Dabrowski 6-4, 6-1 Monday at the WTA Rogers Cup, booking a second-round date with world number one Serena Williams.

Williams, who like all top seeds received a first-round bye at the US Open hardcourt tuneup event, has won all six prior matches against the Italian, who will be the US superstar`s first hardcourt foe since winning her fourth Grand Slam title in a row last month at Wimbledon.

"It`s going to be nice because I`ll play one of the best players ever," Pennetta said. "But it`s good because she`s the hardest test and I`ll see where my game is."

Williams, who has dropped only one career set to Pennetta, is trying to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam and match Steffi Graf with an Open Era-record 22 Grand Slam singles crowns by winning the US Open, which starts in three weeks at New York.

Rain hit the Canadian tournament after Pennetta`s victory, washing out much of the day`s schedule.