Venus Williams ahead to play Maria Sharapova

After a close call, Venus Williams will play Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the 2007 Wimbledon.

Venus Williams ahead to play Maria Sharapova Venus Williams was close to an early exit on Monday, when Akiko Morigami, her unseeded Japanese opponent, served for the match at 5-3 in the final set. In a match previously suspended on Saturday, Williams managed to save her place in the tournament as she broke back and went on to win 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 against Morigami. Venus won the first set, but her Japanese contender was leading 4-1 when the match was postponed due to heavy rain at the Wimbledon on Saturday.

Venus Williams was encountering all sorts of problems with her serve on Saturday and she came up with four double faults in her opening service game, after the match was resumed two days later. On Monday Venus Williams almost handed the game over to Akiko, when the Japanese tennis player and 71st in the world had the chance to serve for the game. This came as a wake up call for Williams and she unloaded a series of brutal ground strokes to break straight back and win the match.

Venus Williams will next face Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the 2007 Wimbledon.

Published on 07/02/2007