V WILLIAMS US 6 v B Mattek US

6-1 6-0

By Tom Fordyce

Second set:

Williams 6-0 Mattek
It's all over - Venus holds serve to love, and the match is hers in under an hour. It has been a ruthless display - she hit 26 winners compared to just three from Mattek. While Venus won over 80% of her second serves, Mattek won only 23%. Mattek gives the crowd the devil-horns sign with her fingers as she walks off court, smiling in dazed fashion.

Williams 5-0 Mattek
"From a distance," the real Bette Midler once sang, "we are instruments, marching in a common band." If that were true today, then Mattek would be a piccolo and Williams a tuba. There's that much difference in power. Venus breaks Mattek again, and the end is nigh.

Williams 4-0 Mattek
It's looking grim for the Midler lookalike. The wind has gone from beneath her wings.

"In ten years' time, Venus Williams probably won't even remember this match. Bethanie Mattek will be telling her grandchildren about it."
Tracey Austin, BBC summariser

Williams 3-0 Mattek
Another game, another break. Mattek is looking weary - understandably so. The longer the match goes on, the more relaxed Venus looks, and the better she plays. Mattek has tried everything - serve and volleying, bringing Venus in, varying the pace of her returns - but the result is always the same.

Williams 2-0 Mattek
Venus takes her seventh game in a row - but Mattek puts up a great fight. She takes the champion to deuce by cleverly mixing up her returns, but inevitably the power of Venus prevails. Update to the Battle of Earrings - Mattek gains extra points for the additional hoop at the top of her ear, plus the silver bar through her left eyebrow. There's also a small dimple in her chin which suggests the one-time presence of a lip piercing.

Williams 1-0 Mattek
Not the start Mattek wanted - she loses her serve to a maelstrom of Venus groundstrokes. Her own chances of breaking back are slim - Venus only conceded four points on her serve in that first set. Mattek needs to find something special if we are going to enjoy her unique sense of style for much longer.

First set:

Williams 6-1 Mattek
Hurricane Venus has blown the young pretender away. If Mattek does get the vicious Venus serve back, she then gets pummelled by her groundstrokes. It's like surviving an Ali straight right, only to be floored by his left hook.

"Bethanie Mattek has not even had a sniff of a break point."
Tracey Austin, BBC summariser

Williams 5-1 Mattek
Williams, with no obvious increase in effort, slips up a gear and takes Mattek apart. That's two breaks now, and it's hard to see how Mattek can turn this one around. There's sympathy from the crowd - they like the young American's pluck.

Williams 4-1 Mattek
William's serve continues to pound Mattek into submission. The underdog is certainly putting up a fight - she's trying to attack Venus whenever she can - but it's an almost impossible task.

Williams 3-1 Mattek
Mattek's first serve is a big weapon - one is clocked at 125mph - but, unlike Venus, she can't get it working consistently. Three mistakes set up a break point for Venus and she takes it with ease. Mattek's ensemble makes her look like a sea-side fortune-teller - albeit one with powerful forearms.

Williams 2-1 Mattek
Sheer power from the reigning champ. Venus's first serve is firing beautifully, and it's too much for Mattek. The crowd are enjoying this one - Mattek's eccentric appearance has won them over already.

Williams 1-1 Mattek
Mattek, extravagant earrings dangling from her lobes, has a great game. Despite heavy pressure from Venus, she holds serve with a succession of delightful drop-shots and lobs. In the earring contest, Venus is just shading it - while Mattek's are big enough for a parrot to perch on, Venus's hang to a clear two inches below chin level.

Williams 1-0 Mattek
One game in, and you already fear for Mattek. Venus rattles through her first service game, dropping just one point. Mattek, who designs all her own clothes, is wearing knee-length white socks and tight football shorts. It's a sensational outfit. She looks a little like a young Bette Midler would if she had played midfield for Don Revie's Leeds team of the 1970s.

It's a warm day in SW19 as Venus prepares to start the defence of her singles title.

She's in a good mood, smiling at the crowd. Mattek looks a little more nervous.