Serena Williams Takes on Another Champion Wednesday saw a battle of champions at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif., a second-round encounter between two women who had both swept the singles and doubles titles at the premier events for each of their respective levels. But the similarities stopped there for Nicole Gibbs and Serena Williams. Gibbs, 19, is a Stanford rising junior who claimed double glory at the N.C.A.A. championships in Athens, Ga., in May. Gibbs beat Stanford teammate Mallory Burdette 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in a thrilling singles final, then teamed with Burdette to win the doubles crown only a few hours later. Given a wild card into the main draw of the WTA tournament her university hosts, Gibbs earned her first career WTA win in the first round against 174th-ranked Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-4, 6-4. Williams, 30, needs little introduction. Having just claimed her fifth Wimbledon titles in both singles and doubles Saturday, Williams flew more than 5,000 miles to Stanford to defend the title that jumpstarted her comeback a year ago. Right after she got off the plane, Williams practiced twice on Tuesday at the tournament site with hitting partner Sascha Bajin. Although the quick four-day turnaround between a Slam final and might have annoyed most, Williams put a positive spin on her packed schedule. "This is kind of where I felt like it began," Williams said of Stanford. So just getting on that plane and getting here and still continuing to play is, I think, the best thing that I could have done. Just keep that up, and enjoy every moment. Because you never know when you're going to get these moments, where I'm going to be feeling as amazing as I do now, and feeling so healthy. So it's just like, you know what, if I feel great I'm going to keep going for it. After Stanford, Williams travels to the east coast to play World Team Tennis for the Washington Kastles, then heads back across the Atlantic for the London Olympics. Gibbs, who at age 12 served as a ball girl for Williams at an exhibition match in Cleveland, was similarly enthusiastic about where tennis had taken her recently. "It's everything," Gibbs said of the opportunity to face Williams. For me, it's already, like the dream, kind of, just to be on a court with someone who's that great and that accomplished. Just seeing where my level is will be a good experience. Early on, Gibbs" level looked well short of making it a competitive match, down 3-0 after only a few minutes. Gibbs eventually found rhythm on her serve and held twice, but Williams, who had traded her Wimbledon whites for an electric lime top and black shorts, fired six aces in the opening set to take it 6-2. Perhaps due to fatigue, Williams spent much of the second set spinning in first serves at under 90 m.p.h., though it did little to effect her control of the match. But leading 5-0 in the second, Williams hit back-to-back double faults that she followed with a yell. Gibbs took advantage, breaking a few points later to prevent a bagel, much to the delight of the vocal Stanford partisans in attendance. But the Wimbledon champion broke back in the next game to seal a 6-2, 6-1 win in 62 minutes. "I couldn't quite believe I was playing today," Williams said after the match, looking slightly shell-shocked. But I'm healthy, I have a heartbeat, so there was no reason for me not to play. Williams added that her jetlag had her waking up at 2 a.m. "I think she played really well," Williams said of Gibbs" effort. She moves really well, and she doesn't quit. And I think that's the best thing you can have. She could have easily gave up, and she didn't. I think that's the best quality you can have as an athlete - especially a tennis player. She's a fighter, and she actually has a really good first serve. It's good to see such good Americans coming up. "It was a great experience for me," Gibbs said. "A lot of experience points for me today, if not physical points," she added with a laugh. Gibbs waved as she was cheered off her home court, but Williams staked her claim to the quick terrain as well. "I love it here," Williams said of Stanford in her on-court interview after the match. I love playing for you guys and I love California. I'm a California girl.