Tue Jun 24 09:53:54 2008

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Venus starts drive for five

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Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Defending champion and four-time winner Venus Williams was an opening-round winner Tuesday at Wimbledon.

The seventh-seeded Williams was tested in the first set by Britain's Naomi Cavaday before cruising in the second for a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory on Centre Court at the All England Club.

The 19-year-old Cavaday surprised Williams by breaking the big American in the opening game of the match, and the British youngster would push Williams to 4-4 in the first-set tiebreak before the six-time Grand Slam champion finally prevailed for a one-set lead.

In the second set, it was all Williams, who ultimately sealed the deal with a forehand winner to improve her career record at Wimbledon to 52-7. The American moved on in 1 hour, 18 minutes with the help of six aces and four service breaks. Cavaday managed just the one break en route to defeat.

The former top-ranked Williams beat France's Marion Bartoli in last year's finale here, giving her a fourth Wimbledon title in eight years. Her other Wimbledon championships came in 2000, 2001 and 2005 and she was the runner-up to her younger sister Serena in 2002 and 2003.

Up next for Venus will be another Brit, Anne Keothavong.