Stanford, 24 July 2011 | tennis.com.au

A tough first-round match against former world No.1 Serena Williams has been dished up to Australian Anastasia Rodionova at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford.

Rodionova has been unable to take a set off Williams in their only two encounters, which were in 2007 and 2008.

Meanwhile, Sam Stosur is already through to the second round courtesy of an opening-round bye.

The fourth seed in Stanford, this will be Stosur’s first tournament since Wimbledon, with the Australian enjoying some time off before the American hardcourt swing.

Stosur’s first opponent will be either rising Romanian Simona Halep or Stosur’s Wimbledon doubles partner – Sabine Lisicki.

Should Stosur make it through to the quarterfinals, a potential match-up with second seed Maria Sharapova or Williams looms.

The other seeds in Stanford are Victoria Azarenka (No.1), Marion Bartoli (No.3), Agnieszka Radwanska (No.5), Julia Goerges (No.6), Ana Ivanovic (No.7) and Dominika Cibulkova (No.8).