Venus Williams. Photograph: A Couldridge/Action

Venus Williams eased into the last 16 with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Court No1 today.

The seventh seed raced through the first set in just 25 minutes, helped by some powerful serving, which included aces clocked at 116, 119 and 120mph.

Sanchez, the world No101, made more of a fight of it in the second, but relied on too many drop shots against one of the fastest players on tour, and paid the price.

To Sanchez’s credit, she broke back in the eighth game and saved four break points in the next to lead 5-4, but it was merely delaying the inevitable.

Williams broke again to lead 6-5 and served out in some style, finishing off with a 127mph ace to seal a 6-1 7-5 win and book her place in the fourth round.

Elsewhere in the women’s third round there were wins for No5 seed Elena Dementieva, who beat Gisela Dulko 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, and Alisa Kleybanova, who beat Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4.

Results

Venus Williams (7) bt Maria Martinez Sanchez 6-1, 7-5Elena Dementieva (5) bt Gisela Dulko 7-6(2), 7-5Alisa Kleybanova bt Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Marina Erakovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

About this articleCloseThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Saturday June 28 2008. It was last updated at 15:01 on June 28 2008.

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