May 28, 2010

Serena storms into 3rd Round at French Open


Serena Williams charged into the third round of the French Open with a 6-1 6-1 pummelling of Germany's Julia Goerges on Friday. She played almost mistake-free tennis, with only four unforced errors to 20 for Goerges. Serena feasted on Goerges' weak second serves, taking them two steps inside the baseline, and held every service game. Serena won 69% of her 1st serves and 72% of her second serves. She converted 5 of 8 break point opportunities and won 6 of 8 approaches at net.

Serena won 15 of 19 points on Goerges' weak second serves. Williams won nine consecutive games to take control. The 12-time Grand Slam champion is bidding for her first French Open title since 2002. The 2002 champion, whose match was cancelled by rain on Thursday, was simply too strong for the world number 77 on a sunsoaked Court Suzanne Lenglen. Serena, wearing a sky blue dress to match the much improved Paris weather, concluded a 55-minute stroll in the park when Goerges sprayed a backhand wide.

Williams has won 41 consecutive second-round matches in major tournaments since losing in that round in her Grand Slam debut in 1998 to her sister Venus. She will next face either fellow American Jill Craybas or Russian 29th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the fourth round.

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