WIMBLEDON
Date: 22 June - 5 July
Coverage: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC HD, Red Button, website streaming (UK only) and text commentary, 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC iPlayer
Tennis on the BBC

By Piers Newbery at Wimbledon

Two-time champion Serena Williams made short work of Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva in round one at Wimbledon.

The 27-year-old American, seeded two, saw off the world number 154, 6-1 7-5, in one hour 13 minutes in the opening women's match on Centre Court.

Williams is in the opposite half of the draw to her sister Venus, the defending and five-time champion, and world number one Dinara Safina.

She will face Lucie Safarova or Jarmila Groth in the second round.

Williams raced into a 4-0 lead against Silva, who was making her Grand Slam singles debut after coming through qualifying.

606: DEBATE Will Serena win her third title?

The 26-year-old from Portugal looked down and out when she slipped on the turf while falling a double-break down at 4-0, and Williams wrapped up the first set in just 27 minutes.

But the 2002 and 2003 champion lost focus early in the second, with her forehand especially error-prone, and Silva grew in confidence as the set progressed, saving a break point to move to 4-4.

Williams was not to be denied though, and after netting a backhand on her first match point in game 10 a heavy return did the job two games later.

Asked if her concentration had slipped or Silva had improved in the second set, Williams said: "A little bit of both. I definitely think she increased her game, but also I think my concentration on some key points, it wasn't where it should have been.

"And, you know, it's just a point here or there that can make or break a match."

Williams said last month that she considered herself the real number one as Safina has yet to win a Grand Slam title, but she backed the Russian - who has never been past the third round at Wimbledon - as the top seed this fortnight.

"I think Dinara should be the number one seed," said the American. "She's been really consistent the last couple months. She's earned that number ranking."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version