Fri Jun 27 12:56:31 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Serena advances at Wimbledon

---

Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Americans Serena Williams and Bethanie Mattek, along with a pair of highly-regarded Russians advanced in third-round action at Wimbledon on Friday.

The sixth-seeded Williams, a two-time Wimbledon champion, edged 29th-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo in a hard-fought first set before dominating things in the second frame to win 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Meanwhile, Mattek stunned 11th-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, the 2007 Wimbledon runner-up, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

After rain forced play to be delayed for 90 minutes in the morning, fourth- seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 8 Anna Chakvetadze of Russia both moved on in straight sets. The U.S. Open runner-up Kuznetsova dispensed of Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4, while Chakvetadze downed countrywoman Evgeniya Rodina, 6-4, 6-3, at the All England Club.

In other action, 14th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland waltzed by Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3, 6-2; No. 15 Agnes Szavay of Hungary outlasted Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-2; and 18th-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Casey Dellacqua of Australia.