S WILLIAMS (US) 7 bt A Molik (Aus)

7-6 (7-4) 6-3

* denotes server

By Tom Fordyce

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SECOND SET

Serena 6-3 Molik
There it is - but not until both players have tried to give each other the game on a silver salver. Serena finally takes the offer and smiles for the first time all afternoon. She's through - but there's a lot of work to be done if she's to re-gain her title.

"Serena being a bit of a drama queen here." Martina Navratilova, BBC TV

"A bit? A bit?" Co-commentator Barry Davies

Serena 5-3 Molik
Molik hangs on grimly, seeing off a match point by forcing Serena into a lame forehand. Serena's still making a lot of errors, and a better player will fancy her chances against her. Richard Williams remains impassive behind his over-sized Nicole Richie-style sunglasses.

"Serena going with the bazooka on the return." Martina Navratilova, BBC TV

Serena 5-2 Molik
Molik looks shattered - she's struggled with an ear infection recently, and the interruption to her training is now showing big-time. Serena holds easily, and we're on the brink. Roger F on next, by the way.

Serena 4-2 Molik
Serena suddenly steps things up another notch, rattling Molik with three crunching returns to snatch a crucial break. Molik's shoulders have slumped, and Coach Paul is grimacing while rubbing his chin resignedly.

Serena 3-2 Molik
It's all gone a bit scrappy - points are being lost by both players, rather than won. Serena benefits from a mis-hit Molik forehand to edge in front, and then sits down in her chair with her eyes shut before wiping her nose with relish on her bright pink towel.

Serena 2-2 Molik
Molik tosses away her advantage in desperately disappointing fashion, airily wafting two forehands wide and gifting Serena the break back with immediate effect. Limited appluase from the crowd - we're dealing with a 30/70 Serena/Molik split here.

Serena 1-2 Molik
Roars from the excited Aussie faithful as Molik nips at Serena's ankles like an angry terrier, snapping at her on both sides and taking a deserved break when Serena slips in the corner and misses another skidding slice. Game on...

Serena 1-1 Molik
Nervy times for Molik - she has to hang on through four deuces before taking the game with a drilled forehand cross-court off a patsy return from Serena. Sister Venus - the tennis player, not a nun - is watching from the VIP box, her long straightened hair hanging down stiffly. She exchanges some chirpy banter with Molik's coach Paul Kilderry, who's perched next to her.

Serena 1-0 Molik
Serena rattles through her service game with a grim determination. For someone who's a set and game up, she's not looking particularly chuffed.

FIRST SET

Serena 7-6 Molik
Ach - Molik had a real chance there at 4-2 up, only to clout two careless forehands into the tramlines. Serena doesn't need asking twice - she blasts in two vicious serves and aces down the middle to snatch the set. Barely has the ball left her racquet for the winning serve when she screams, "Come on!" with a teeth-bared fury.

Serena 6-6 Molik
Hats off to the Aussie battler - she mixes up her groundstrokes beautifully, going from monstrous slice to whipped topspin forehand and leaving Serena as angry as a dog chasing a wasp. She's got the break back, and we'll have ourselves a tie-break.

Serena 6-5 Molik
Molik cracks again at the worst possible moment, missing an attempted backhand winner by a fraction to go break-point down and then being flagellated by three whip-crack Serena forehands. Molik must now break straight back to stay in the set. Richard Williams, wearing a brown Pringle sweater, fiddles distractedly with something at his feet.

Serena 5-5 Molik
Serena holds with zero fuss, and the Aussies in the crowd have lips zipped once again.

Serena 4-5 Molik
A sigh of relief from Molik as she mixes her serve up cheekily to nose in front once again. She's sstarted up a grunt of her own, although it's something of a weak-wristed sigh compared to Serena's ear-splitter.

Serena 4-4 Molik
Serena hammers home her fourth ace of the day, and finally comes into the net behind her cannonball groundstrokes. Molik is blown away again. 10 minutes ago she was 4-1 up and eyeing a one set lead; now she's trying to stop a steamroller with pea-shooter.

Serena 3-4 Molik
When the grunt gets going, it's a fearsome weapon. Serena is now using it willy-nilly across all strokes, even backhand slices, and Molik is thrashed into semi-conscious submission. That's the break back.

Serena 2-4 Molik
Deep in trouble, Serena reaches in desperation for her grunt - and the move pays off for her immediately as the power of her groundstrokes jumps three notches. As the game-sealing forehand sizzles down the line, she screams a meaty "Come on!" and looks satisfied in an angry way.

Serena 1-4 Molik
Molik holds to love with a dominant service game, and Serena looks rattled. As the players cross, the first shouts of "Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi!" go up from some over-enthusiastic off-duty barstaff.

Serena 1-3 Molik
Great stuff from Aussie Alicia - she sets up two break points by forcing a puffing Serena from one corner of the court to another, and takes the second of them with a cunning slice that goes virtually subterranean on landing.

"I don't see the muscle on Serena's legs that was there four years ago." BBC TV's Martina Navratilova

Serena 1-2 Molik
Developing nicely, this one - Serena crunches her way to a break point and seems to have Molik at her mercy, only to blaze a simple forehand long with the court on its knees and begging for mercy. Molik hangs on with a gutsy second serve and puffs out her cheeks with relief as she trots back to her chair.

Serena 1-1 Molik
Solid hold too from Serena, her first three serves sizzling down the middle and whistling past Molik like Brett Lee bouncers. Serena's earrings are huge, even by her strong-lobed standards - triple squares of glinting gold that swing wildly with every stroke.

Serena 0-1 Molik
Good start from the Aussie, who powers in two big first serves early doors and then uses the skiddy court to slip a little backhand slice away from Serena to take the game. Grey-ish overhead and an April nip in the air, but the rain's cleared off for the time being.

1328 BST: Still plenty of empty seats here, particularly in the posh areas. Just what is it that's so attractive about a five-course free lunch in the sponsors' marquee, complete with chilled champagne and strawberries served in diamond-encrusted goblets?

1321 BST: Here they come - Serena in sober white attire, with a matching headband, threequarter-length trousers and snug-fitting tracksuit top. If it wasn't for the gold racquet, she'd be positively demure.