Serena snaps at reporter who calls match vs. Safarova 'scrappy'

Serena Williams has never been averse to self-criticism, but it's a different story when that criticism comes from without rather than within.

After Williams notched a routine, straight-sets win over Lucie Safarova in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday, a reporter offered her his take on the match.

"Congrats on the win, but it looked a little bit of a scrappy performance," the reporter said. "Few more unforced errors there for you, couple more double faults."

It was an unconventional way to start a press conference - with a comment rather than a question - and Williams wasn't having any of it.

"Oh, I think that's a very negative thing to say," she shot back. "Are you serious?"

"Just my observation," he replied.

"OK, well, you should have been out there," Williams said. "That wasn't very kind. You should apologize. Do you want to apologize?"

As it turned out, yes, he did.

"OK, thank you very much," Williams said. "That was a great performance, I played well. She's a former top-10 player. The last time we played was in the finals of a Grand Slam, you know, it's not an easy match. She's a really good player, so you have to go for more, which obviously makes a few more errors.

"So, yeah, I think it was overall a really good match. On both of our ends."

Williams will face countrywoman Nicole Gibbs in the third round.