Serena starts slow before powering into 2nd
Williams fights off five break-point chances before beating Kanepi
 GLYN KIRK / AFP/Getty Images Serena Williams fended off five break point chances in the first set Monday. |
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WIMBLEDON, England - Two-time champion Serena Williams opened her Wimbledon campaign with a harder-than-expected 7-5, 6-3 win on Court 1 over Estonia's Kaia Kanepi on Monday.
Williams came on wearing a white belted, thigh-length raincoat, or Mackintosh. But there was no rain in sight, so she hung the jacket on her chair. Kanepi, meanwhile, wore dark sunglasses throughout the match.
“You know, I absolutely love trench coats,” Williams said. “Now I have a wonderful white coat I can wear on the court and also in New York for those rainy days. ... It’s ladylike and goes perfect with my personality. It’s very light. It’s just delectable.”
Williams, whose Wimbledon wins in 2002 and ’03 are among her eight major titles, struggled in the first set. She fended off five break points against the French Open quarterfinalist.
The turning point came at 5-5 when Kanepi had a break point for 6-5. Williams attacked and put away a forehand volley smash, letting out a shout and pumping her fist. She held serve and Kanepi double faulted on set point in the next game. Williams was in command throughout the second set.
Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic beat Rossana de Los Rios of Paraguay 6-1, 6-2 in less than an hour in her first match since winning the French Open and taking over the No. 1 ranking. The Serbian player never faced a break point and ripped 13 baseline winners.
“Coming as the top seed, lots of people just expect you to win,” Ivanovic said. “You have to work hard, especially on grass. Everything is happening so fast.”
Also advancing among the women were No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who overcame Mathilde Johansson of France 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3; and 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo — seeded 29th — who downed Ashley Harkleroad 6-3, 6-4. Five lower-seeded women went out, including No. 12 Patty Schnyder. The Swiss, who reached the fourth round last year, lost to Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Defending women’s champion Venus Williams begins a bid for her fifth Wimbledon title Tuesday against wild card entry Naomi Cavaday of Britain.
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