Venus Williams, reigning Wimbledon ladies champion, is safely through to the second round after she overcame unseeded Shinobu Asagoe of Japan 6-2 6-3 but not without some problems. Although the scoreline suggests it was an easy victory for the second seed, it was far from comfortable for the American who had not played a match since her early exit from the French Open.
Williams lost her service in the fifth game of the first set but her power proved too much for Asagoe and the American managed to secure the first set on her seventh set point in the eighth game. Williams then lost the first two games of the second set and Asagoe was poised to go 4-1 up when Williams finally started to play like the champion she is.
Suddenly the difference in skill began to show through as Williams fired booming groundstrokes around the court. The American won the next five games in succession to earn her place in the second round but her rivals will be glad to hear that the champion's defence has already had its shaky moments.
"I played okay," said Williams afterwards. "I was always going to be a bit shaky. I didn't feel any pressure. To win last year was a dream come true, but I still want the title as much. I want to win again," she insisted. However, she did admit that she has not yet gotten over her first round exit at Roland Garros in this year's French Open championship. "I feel deprived not having been able to compete there. I really felt I had a good chance. I don't think I'll ever get over it," she added.
Meanwhile, last year's beaten finalist, Lindsay Davenport, has also progressed to the second round with victory over Slovakian Martina Sucha on Court One. The American never looked in danger as she took the match 6-3 6-3 to make into the next round.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
