Wimbledon - Women: Serena powers into last 16

Eurosport - Sat, 27 Jun 15:06:00 2009

Former champion Serena Williams outclassed Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-4 to book her place in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Roberta Vinci of Italy during their match at Wimbledon REUTERS - 0

The 27-year-old American, seeking to add a third Wimbledon crown to the Australian Open she won in January, broke for a 3-1 lead in the opening set against the world number 53 and never looked back.

The second seed breezed through the opening set in 28 minutes and though Vinci had the audacity to break back with a refreshing penchant for serve and volley, Williams completed victory with a crunching ace on Court Two.

She will play Daniela Hantuchova for a place in the quarter-finals, after the Slovak downed her doubles partner Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-4 6-3.

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva brushed aside fellow Russian Regina Kulikova 6-1 6-2 to book a place in the fourth round for the sixth time in her career.

The fourth seed, who looks to have one of the best quarters in the draw, broke twice in the opening set before wrapping it up in just 24 minutes before Kulikova, playing her sixth match after a tough qualifying run, improved markedly.

The world number 191 made more of a game of it in the second but Dementieva had too much in her armoury, sealing victory with a scrambled backhand down the line.

Dementieva will play another compatriot Elena Vesnina in the next round, after the Russian downed Slovakian 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 4-6 6-4.

Gisela Dulko, the Argentine who knocked Maria Sharapova out in the second round, went down in three sets to Nadia Petrova 3-6 6-3 6-4.

The Russian 10th seed next encounters Belarussian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, who ended the campaign of Romanian Sorana Cristea, seeded 28th, 7-6(2) 6-3.

Vera Zvonareva saw her tournament ended by an ankle injury. The Russian seventh seed withdrew shortly before the start of her scheduled third round meeting with Virginie Razzano of France, who now faces Francesca Schiavone.

The unseeded Italian beat 12th seed Marion Bartoli, runner-up in 2007 to Venus Williams, 7-6(5) 6-0.

Zvonareva, 24, reached the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open but she has struggled since suffering an injury to her right ankle in April which sidelined her for eight weeks and meant she missed the French Open.

Reuters

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  1. i hate people who seeks to downgrade the strong for no­ other reason but that they are strong
    y do haters call­ the williams sisters dog like n class them as men if­ one doesnt find the girls attractive or just want to c­ little half dead girls play y dont u form a game made­ for them only
    the problem is some people just want­ things of their tast and to hell with the rest
    i say­ let the girls play and some day some one with the skill­ and ability will win over them
    enjoy the games and­ stop been hating pervs

    From Howard, on Sat 27 Jun 3:36PM

  2. i hate people who seeks to downgrade the strong for no­ other reason but that they are strong
    y do hater call­ the williams sisters @#$% n class them as men if one­ doesnt find the girls attractive or just want to c­ little half dead girls play y dont u form a game made­ for them only
    the problem is some people just want­ things of their tast and to hell with the rest
    i say­ let the girls play and some day some one with the skill­ and ability will win over them
    enjoy the games and­ stop been hating pervs

    From Howard, on Sat 27 Jun 3:33PM

  3. i hate people who seeks to downgrade the strong for no­ other reason but that they are strong
    y do hater call­ the williams sisters @#$% n class them as men if one­ doesnt find the girls attractive or just want to c­ little half dead girls play y dont u form a game made­ for them only
    the problem is some people just want­ things of their tast and to hell with the rest
    i say­ let the girls play and some day some one with the skill­ and ability will win over them
    enjoy the games and­ stop been hating pervs

    From Howard, on Sat 27 Jun 3:32PM

  4. A WAD STILL SQUIRT MAY LOD OPP ER BATTAM THO.

    From Donney, on Sat 27 Jun 2:15PM

  5. SHE FINKS SHES PRATTAY BAT WE NAY BATTAR.

    From Donney, on Sat 27 Jun 2:14PM

  6. A HOV TAY AGREE WATH YEER BADONG SERENA AS WAN AHLAY­ WATCH.

    From Donney, on Sat 27 Jun 2:13PM

  7. SERENA HOS A MOSAVE BATTAM. ATS TAY BAG AN MAY OPINIAN.­ LATS A BLECK WEMON HOV BAG BATTAMS BAT HERS JAST­ EXTRECTS THA YARINE.

    From Donney, on Sat 27 Jun 2:12PM

  8. It seems as the only ones who see the williams games as­ very impressive are the retired professionals or their­ fans. As the general consensus about the womens games­ is that its one dimensional, jus hard hittin from the­ bak of the court. However the williams bring sumtin­ different to the court. And thats y they are top­ billin. Many of the names ppl quote as bein capable to­ win other than the williams jus hit the ball hard­ (Safina, Azarenka, Dementieva, Ianovic) JJ is the only­ one hu plays a defensive game. Other than that the­ Williams are the complete package and very excitin.­ Comin to the net, an even servin an volleyin, whilst­ the others make home on the baseline.

    From P B, on Sat 27 Jun 11:12AM

  9. wouldn't it be lovely to see a fairy tale princess­ like hantuchova beat a monstrous witch like serena? all­ the best daniela!

    From badongskie, on Sat 27 Jun 6:36AM

  10. For tennis sake put these sisters in the men's­ grouping and let's see a women's final with­ femininity in it. Hoping someone yet has managed to­ get good enough to play against sheer brawn. And why­ say anything about being in court 2 if happy with it.­ "I want star billing I am a star"!! get over­ it, it's a tennis court isn't it so play tennis­ on it, skip the drama

    From Drifter, on Sat 27 Jun 1:08AM

  11. Probaly bettert o watch than the mens' - More­ rallies (maybe the masculine? Williams sisters­ excluded) - But SFJ (sweetsufferinjesus) you really do­ have to off the the sound with these grunitinbitches! ­ Does my head in!

    From Mr Burns, on Sat 27 Jun 12:50AM

  12. serena shouts with every shot

    yes boss yes boss yes­ boss yes boss

    From mike, on Sat 27 Jun 12:49AM

  13. newsflash

    michael jackson is dead

    From mike, on Sat 27 Jun 12:43AM

  14. N BY D WAY SHE IS THROUGH 2 D NXT ROUND N SAMM IS­ THINKIN WERE HE IS SLEEPIN 2NITE U HOMELESS PIG WIT NO­ DIGNITY

    From samuel b, on Sat 27 Jun 12:43AM

  15. SUM1 WHO HAS NO LIFE WHO LIVE ON D TEX PAYER'S­ MONEY N CANT EVEN ASK A GAL OUT JUS INSULT GALS WIT­ MORALS,N V THEIR OWN TRADE MAKE I THINK UR MUM DIDNT­ TRAIN U WEL OR SHE LEFT U AT D HMELESS HME,WEN U WERE­ STIL YOUNG,EVEN IF I HAD A DOG I WONT LET U @#$% CLOSE­ 2 HER!!

    From samuel b, on Sat 27 Jun 12:36AM

  16. P B
    you obviously did not see the interview as she was­ definitely moaning!

    From cameron w, on Fri 26 Jun 11:07PM

  17. Hey, I'm an open minded girl from UK, I'm-­ interested in exotic things, photography, dating and-­ sports...I have my photos on --- TallMeet Co m ---, I-­ love tall guys!
    Do you love traveling and have some-­ experience? Just find me out.

    From x x, on Fri 26 Jun 10:33PM

  18. Serena did not moan about court 2. Wimbledon always­ make a habit of puttin both williams on court 2 at one­ stage in their championship run. However previous­ winners or other top tennis players do not go on that­ court (esp the men side). Its a new number 2 court, an­ she sed she totally enjoyed playin on that court. The­ crowd were closer n more involved. An look at the crowd­ pullers they put on the main 2 show courts. Not excitin­ or a quater of the court filled. (women)

    From P B, on Fri 26 Jun 9:49PM

  19. #38, court no 2 is known for knocking out champions and­ everyone dreads playing in that court including­ sampras. this is what court 2 is all about. why­ can't some of you posters here write decent­ articles anymore? why call a fellow human animal? if in­ biology terms you talk of higher animals then all­ humans are animals like you writer.

    From Augustine A, on Fri 26 Jun 9:27PM

  20. oy mike? repost YOUR ideas about Micheal Jackson again.­ Only this time be smart about it

    From Kem-One, on Fri 26 Jun 9:17PM
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