(June 27, 2013) After the chaos which was Wednesday at Wimbledon which saw 11 seeds including seven former No. 1 players fall including defending champion Roger Federer and third seed Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams brought the tournament back to order on Thursday.
Williams pushed her way past Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round. She hit nine aces and 30 winners in the match
“I wouldn’t want to play me at 21 or 3, “the American said as she is aiming to win major number 17. “But I feel really honored that such champions, like Martina Navratilova, that I grew up completely admiring, as well as Boris Becker, could look at me and say, Wow, she’s really playing well.
As for Federer’s loss on Wednesday: “I really was shocked pretty much that Federer was not able to win. I think Stakhovsky played really well. I think he played excellent. I thought Roger played well. Obviously Roger can play a lot better, which is something he can always take with him.
“So it’s just weird, that’s all.”
The 31-year-old Williams will play 42-year-old Kimiko Dte-Krumm in the third round.
Date-Krumm became the second oldest women in the Open Era to reach the third round of a major when she defeated Alexandra Cadantu 6-4, 7-5.
Williams said that she’s excited about playing the Japanese veteran.
“Well, I’ve never played her,” Williams said. “I have so much respect for her. I think she’s so inspiring to be playing such high‑level tennis at her age. And she’s a real danger on the grass court, I know that. I definitely will have to be ready.
“It’s for sure not going to be easy, but I’ll be ready.”
The last time Date-Krumm reach the third round of Wimbledon was back in 1996. She fell to Steffi Graf in the semifinals.
American teenager Madison Keys ousted 30th seed Mona Barthel of Germany 6-4, 6-2. Keys actually beat Barthel two weeks ago at Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Birmingham.
Keys says that she like playing on the grass:
“I just like how big serves and big forehands are rewarded. You know, I think it’s just different than other surfaces. For me, I feel like I can come to the net a little bit more comfortably than on other surfaces.”
Keys will be trying to reach her first round of 16 at a major when she takes on No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska next.
Radwanska defeated Mathilde Johansson 6-1, 6-3.