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No sweat for Williams, Capriati, Henin-Hardenne, Pierce
London, June 27: A determined Serena Williams moved a step closer to retaining her Wimbledon title, subduing Belgian Els Callens 6-4 6-4 in Thursday`s second round.
London, June 27: A determined Serena Williams moved a step closer to retaining her Wimbledon title, subduing Belgian Els Callens 6-4 6-4 in Thursday's second round.
The 32-year-old Callens, making her 12th appearance at Wimbledon and who was knocked out by the top seed in the third round last year, did not go down without a fight.
She held her own in the first set, but after the world number one broke her in the fifth game was unable to find an answer to the champion's forceful service game.
Despite coming out positively in the second set, she was swiftly broken by Williams, who looked to have the match wrapped up after surging into a 4-0 lead.
But the Belgian refused to buckle, holding serve then breaking Williams's serve for the first time, before levelling the scores to the roars of an appreciative crowd.
Williams broke back in the ninth game with a scything forehand winner and from there she served out the set.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne breezed through to the third round with a 7-6 6-1 victory over Italy's Flavia Pennetta on Centre Court.
The Belgian, seeded three, was given a stiff test in the opening set by the hard-hitting 21-year-old Italian, who is ranked 55 and was playing at Wimbledon for the first time.
Henin saved a set point at 5-6 before taking the tiebreak 7-2 as Pennetta consistently found the lines with her ferocious forehand.
The Italian was visibly demoralised and errors began to flow from her backhand, allowing the 2001 Wimbledon finalist to race through the second set in 23 minutes on a blustery afternoon at the All England Club.
Henin plays either Australian Alicia Molik or Russian Elena Likhovtseva, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, in the third round.
The 21-year-old Belgian remains on course for a grudge semi-final rematch against American defending champion Serena Williams, who she beat in a fiery French Open semi-final earlier this month.
Also in the women's draw, two former grand slam champions showed form of old to advance.
Eighth seed Jennifer Capriati thrashed Swiss Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian 6-2 6-1 and, more impressively, unseeded Mary Pierce ousted 14th seed Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 6-1.
The powerful former Australian and French Open champion, now ranked 86, brushed aside Daniilidou on a sun-bathed court two to set up a showdown with American Lisa Raymond.
The victory was 28-year-old Pierce's second impressive victory of the tournament. She whitewashed her first-round opponent 6-0 6-0 and is on course for fourth round meeting with reigning French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne.
"I feel like I'm playing well, but I know I still have lots of work to do," Pierce said. "I have a very aggressive game so it's important for me to be in good shape."
Maria Sharapova, the latest glamour-girl of tennis is also through to the third round. The sixteen-year-old beat fellow Russian Elena Bovina, seeded 21, 6-3 6-1.
Bureau Report
Williams broke back in the ninth game with a scything forehand winner and from there she served out the set.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne breezed through to the third round with a 7-6 6-1 victory over Italy's Flavia Pennetta on Centre Court.
The Belgian, seeded three, was given a stiff test in the opening set by the hard-hitting 21-year-old Italian, who is ranked 55 and was playing at Wimbledon for the first time.
Henin saved a set point at 5-6 before taking the tiebreak 7-2 as Pennetta consistently found the lines with her ferocious forehand.
The Italian was visibly demoralised and errors began to flow from her backhand, allowing the 2001 Wimbledon finalist to race through the second set in 23 minutes on a blustery afternoon at the All England Club.
Henin plays either Australian Alicia Molik or Russian Elena Likhovtseva, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, in the third round.
The 21-year-old Belgian remains on course for a grudge semi-final rematch against American defending champion Serena Williams, who she beat in a fiery French Open semi-final earlier this month.
Also in the women's draw, two former grand slam champions showed form of old to advance.
Eighth seed Jennifer Capriati thrashed Swiss Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian 6-2 6-1 and, more impressively, unseeded Mary Pierce ousted 14th seed Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 6-1.
The powerful former Australian and French Open champion, now ranked 86, brushed aside Daniilidou on a sun-bathed court two to set up a showdown with American Lisa Raymond.
The victory was 28-year-old Pierce's second impressive victory of the tournament. She whitewashed her first-round opponent 6-0 6-0 and is on course for fourth round meeting with reigning French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne.
"I feel like I'm playing well, but I know I still have lots of work to do," Pierce said. "I have a very aggressive game so it's important for me to be in good shape."
Maria Sharapova, the latest glamour-girl of tennis is also through to the third round. The sixteen-year-old beat fellow Russian Elena Bovina, seeded 21, 6-3 6-1.
Bureau Report