Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 6 July 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
LONDON (Reuters): Seven-times champion Serena Williams moved up a gear at Wimbledon to beat Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova 6-1 6-4 on Wednesday and reach the third round.
The 36-year-old American barely broke sweat in a one-sided first set but was tested by the world number 135 in the second without ever looking troubled.
While the Centre Court crowd clearly appreciated the sight of Williams in full flow, they also took a shine to the plucky Tomova who battled hard to make a match of it.
Even ultimate warrior Williams applauded a couple of her opponent’s winners late in the second set before completing victory in 66 minutes.
“It was better than my first round and I’m happy that I’m going in the right direction,” Williams, who took her winning streak at Wimbledon to 16 matches, said.
“I just hope every match is better.”While the 25th seed was pleased with her progress since her 7-5 6-3 first-round win over Arantxa Rus, she still has a lot of things on her ‘to do list’ before her next test against France’s Kristina Mladenovic.
“There’s so many things that I want to improve on, but that’s kind of how I always feel. Still want to work on getting my first serves in more,” added the American who is looking to draw level with Margaret Court’s record haul of 24 majors.
“I don’t like to be satiated with a great result. I want to continue and do more. For me, that’s just who I am.”
LONDON (Reuters): Britain’s Johanna Konta joined the exodus of women’s seeds at Wimbledon on Thursday, beaten 6-3 6-4 by Dominica Cibulkova, a player with a point to prove.
Konta became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 1978 last year, losing to Venus Williams, but her hopes of repeating that thrilling run were crushed by an inspired Slovakian on a subdued Centre Court.
