Serena Williams recovered from losing to opening set to avoid becoming another top seed to suffer a shock defeat at Wimbledon today when she beat Italian qualifier Mara Santangelo 2-6 6-3 6-2.
The two-times Wimbledon winner marched out onto a Centre Court where those spectators which remained still looked stunned by Tim Henman's exit a few minutes earlier.
And the American started flat, uninspired and was careless in a shambles of a first set during which her opponent had only to stay solid and efficient to cause problems.
Williams - who pulled out of the French Open last month with a damaged ankle after her latest Grand Slam triumph in the Australian Open during January – has won major titles all over the world and insists she is still keen as ever to collect a third crown here after having to settle for runner-up to Maria Sharapova last year.
And to be fair she produced a typical grandstand finish to sweep aside Santangelo in the deciding set with a more recognisable power forehand and penetrating serve.
Williams had also struggled, though, in the previous round against American compatriot Angela Haynes, dropping a set there also.
Santangelo is ranked even lower, however, at 124 - and when the number four seed comes into contact with the main contenders in the next few rounds, she will have to find her concentration, and form, right from the start.
