Sharapova and Radwanska win through Wimbledon second round
Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska won their second round matches on day four at Wimbledon.
While court 18 will be long be remembered for the titanic struggle between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut (already the longest tennis match in history and one which will continue into its third day on that court later today) Radwanska’s stay on that court lasted just one hour and 12 minutes.
The seventh seed disposed of Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-0 as she made just 12 unforced errors to her opponent’s 25. With six break point chances in the first set and eight for the match, the Italian was perhaps a little unlucky the score line will record this one as such a comprehensive defeat, but it was Radwanska’s tidier game that ultimately made the difference.
The news was just as good for Sharapova in her match against Ioana Raluca Olaru, as the 16th seed continues to beat a path towards a fourth round match against defending champion Serena Williams.
After dropping just one game in the first set, the former world No. 1 secured the first break of the second against her Romanian opponent, who broke back to level the set at 4-4. Sharapova broke again in the next game, however, and went on to hold serve in the next game to wrap up the 6-1, 6-4 victory.
It’s another performance that indicates the 2004 champion looks to be making some inroads in the quest to rediscover her pre-shoulder injury form, although the true test will come when she faces her first seeded opponent, which could be Daniela Hantuchova in the third round, with the Russian yet to defeat a player ranked inside the top 40 all year.
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