Serena Williams returned from exile after a previous match in the Wimbledon wilderness, crashing down 20 aces in a 6-0, 7-5 rout of Slovak Dominika Cibulkova to reach the second week of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Three-time champion Williams had been quietly seething after failing to get a Centre court match date in front of Britain’s visiting Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, winning that second-round contest on a semi-outside court at the All England Club.
But the top seed was scheduled back in a more accustomed place at the showcase venue for what turned out to be a brief 68—minute visit to reach the fourth round. Williams, who between herself and sister Venus have won eight of the last 10 Wimbledon editions, will Monday play the winner from 2004 champion Maria Sharapova of Russia and Czech Barbora Strycova.
Sharapova beat Williams in the final six year ago.
In other third—round matches prior to Sunday’s traditional day off at the Championships, Polish seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Italy’s Sara Errani 6-3, 6-1.
“We played almost two hours, it was long and tight match ” said Radwanska. “I was just very happy that I keep my serving very well from the beginning till the end.” Number nine Li Na of China saw of Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-1, 6-3 and Czech Petra Kvitova upset 14th seed Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-0.
The men got their first result of another sunny afternoon as sixth seeded Swede Robin Soderling rolled Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.
