Serena safely through to second round
Serena Williams aiming for third Wimbledon title
Also In The News
|
Capital/EMI, out now. |  |
Monday, 22, Jun 2009 09:43
American Serena Williams eased into the second round of Wimbledon with a 6-1 7-5 win over Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva.
Williams started in her typical powerful fashion as she raced to a 4-0 lead. The number two seed wrapped up the first set in just 27 minutes.
Silva, who was making her Grand Slam debut, fought bravely in the second set and despite being constantly bullied from the back of the court, somehow managed to get to 4-4 in the set. But Williams made the breakthrough when it mattered and broke to take the set 7-5 and clinch the win.
The 27-year-old, who is aiming for her third Wimbledon title, will face either Lucie Safarova or Jarmila Groth in the second round.
Elsewhere, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova had a far tougher match against 20-year-old Ukrainian Viktoriya Kutuzova, before coming through 7-5 6-4.
Sharapova found herself in real trouble in the first set as she fell 4-1 and 5-3 behind, but the Russian came back to take the opener.
The second set was slightly easier as Sharapova took a 4-2 lead, and despite being broken when serving for the match, the former world number one took the set 6-4.
Fourth seed Elena Dementieva was also forced to come from behind as she trailed fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva 4-2 in the first set, before winning 6-4 6-1.
Briton Mel South lost a late night match 7-5 7-6 (7-5) to Mathilde Johansson. South pushed her opponent hard and saved match points in the second set to take into a tie-break, but lost it 7-5.