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. why did you remove mikes post? you should've left­ it so people can read it

    From Kem-One, on Sat 27 Jun 4:07AM

  2. Saying all that ISN'T going to DO NOTHING mike.­ Serena Williams is through to next round.

    From Kem-One, on Sat 27 Jun 4:04AM

  3. Court No 2 is a delightful traditionalhappy court
    you­ can get closeer to the action & smell every breath

    From pitcrew66, on Sat 27 Jun 3:59AM

  4. Is THAT all you got mike?????

    From Kem-One, on Sat 27 Jun 3:58AM

  5. I have just seen an interview with Miss Williams­ moaning about having to play on Number-2 Court; i­ daresay i will get lambasted for this, but what the­ hey. In my opinion, a true champion should not be­ bothered about which court he/she plays on - besides, i­ thought Number-2 court was an okay court . . please­ correct me if i am wrong?

    From cameron w, on Sat 27 Jun 3:13AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Recently, I discovered a hot place -- W ealthyFinder­ Co- m- -- where many sexy singles who like sports and-­ chatting- there. I'm an open minded girl from UK,­ I- also like- discuss sports and love with handsome­ guys- on it.

    From , on Sat 27 Jun 2:45AM

  7. Hope Hantuchova can give her a good match like in 2007,­ drama filled, embarrassing she lost to the spasming­ Injurena but both are playing quite well so I expect an­ entertaining match whatever happens, at least take a­ set Dani!! :D x

    From opera.aria, on Sat 27 Jun 2:27AM

  8. Love u Serena, well done!

    From Vic M, on Sat 27 Jun 2:16AM

  9. she shouts YES BOSS with every hit

    From mike, on Sat 27 Jun 1:29AM

  10. What rumour?

    From Perry Neeham, on Sat 27 Jun 1:03AM

  11. Hi mike & Samm what are you doing you to ugli­ monster west of space go before too late find Job­ don't be full like the rest of your family &­ children making baby and get money walfare & go to­ Pub. Ha ha ha low life Scam instade of Educate yourself­ and get better life but ordi you are dead emotionally.

    From amy, on Fri 26 Jun 11:34PM

  12. Hi mike & Samm what are you doing you to ugli­ monster west of space go before too late find Job­ don't be full like the rest of your family &­ children making baby and get money walfare & go to­ Pub. Ha ha ha low life Scam instade of Educate yourself­ and get better life but ordi you are dead emotionally.

    From amy, on Fri 26 Jun 11:32PM

  13. Hi mike & Samm what are you doing you to ugli­ monster west of space go before too late find Job­ don't be full like the rest of your family &­ children making baby and get money walfare & go to­ Pub. Ha ha ha low life Scam instade of Educate yourself­ and get better life but ordi you are dead emotionally.

    From amy, on Fri 26 Jun 11:31PM

  14. AVE BEEN TOUCHED BY . . . . A SMOOOOTH CRIMINAL­

    AOWWW . . . .

    From JEEMS, on Fri 26 Jun 11:27PM

  15. ANDY MURRAY WILL WIN A SLAM . . .

    HEE HEE HEE HEE­ HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE . . .

    From JEEMS, on Fri 26 Jun 11:25PM

  16. Who here thinks that Samm

    1. Has a very, very small­­ penis.
    2. Cant look a woman in the eye because­­ he's too shy, short and weak.
    3. Lost his­ virginty­ to a chicken
    4. Suffers from premature @#$%.­ (even when­ he is the only one there)
    5. His one and­ only girfriend­ ran off with a black woman who was more­ manly than­ him.

    Poor guy no wonder he is so full of­ bile.
    But­ its the chicken I fell sorry for.

    From Gavin F, on Fri 26 Jun 11:24PM

  17. womens tennis now there is something on a par with­ formula 1.
    I believe there is still a rally going on,­ on court 37 from Monday.

    From Dave H, on Fri 26 Jun 11:23PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    See all matches at Wimbledon and other Grand Slam­ tournaments, live in high-quality, totally free in­ tenisentv.blogspot.

    From Javier, on Fri 26 Jun 11:21PM

  19. Hi mike you are sun off @#$% you know i an sure you­ don't know your father it might be Animal Dog or­ Nick Griffen your mom bring you to earth by one night­ stand like the rest of your family low life Scam go­ have sex with ship us usuall pig.

    From amy, on Fri 26 Jun 11:17PM

  20. Hi mike you are sun off @#$% you know i an sure you­ don't know your father it might be Animal Dog or­ Nick Griffen your mom bring you to earth by one night­ stand like the rest of your family low life Scam go­ have sex with ship us usuall pig.

    From amy, on Fri 26 Jun 11:14PM
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