Venus Coasts Into Second Round

Sixth seeded American Venus Williams had more trouble getting on the court for her first round match than against her opponent. Forced to wait till Wednesday to play due to Monday's rain which pushed the schedule back, the defending champion made quick work of American qualifier Bethanie Mattek 6-1, 6-0 at the All England Club Wednesday.

Williams will next play American Lisa Raymond, who benefited when her opponent Yaroslava Shvedova retired after leading 5-3.

Also easily into Round 2 was top seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, who double bageled Ivana Abramovic 6-0, 6-0. She'll face Aussie Samantha Stosur, who eliminated Michaella Krajicek 7-5, 6-3.

2004 champ Maria Sharapova (4) also was an easy winner over Anna Smashnova 6-2, 6-0. The 19 year-old Russian will meet American Ashley Harkleroad next after the 21 year-old made Round 2 for the first time by defeating Jelena Kostanic 6-3, 6-2.

Elena Dementieva (7) was a 7-6 (5), 7-5 winner over Sania Mirza. She'll next meet American Meghann Shaughnessy, who ousted Ukraine's Alyona Bondarenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Other women's Round 1 seeds who advanced were Anastasia Myskina (9), Dinara Safina (14), Flavia Pennetta (16), Ana Ivanovic (19), Shahar Peer (20), Annabel Medina Garrigues (23), Elena Likhovtseva (25), Jelena Jankovic (26) and Tatiana Golovin (29).

However, there were three upsets. Britain's own Melanie South took out 11th seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Austrian Sybille Bammer eliminated Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy (22) 7-5, 7-5. American veteran Amy Frazier eliminated Mara Santangelo (32) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Hingis Rolls On: The comeback Queen continued to roll. Martina Hingis (12) easily moved into the third round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Tathiana Garbin. She'll next face Japan's Ai Sugiyama (18), who beat Akiko Morigami 6-2, 7-5.

Second seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters didn't even have to step on the court to advance. She was a walkover beneficiary when opponent Victoria Kutuzova couldn't play.

Meanwhile, French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne (3) dispatched of Ekaterina Bychkova 6-1, 6-2. The woman she beat at Roland Garros, fifth seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova cameback to defeat Czech Kveta Peschke 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Nicole Vaidisova (10) was also victorious, posting a 6-1, 6-1 win over Katerina Bondarenko.

Other seeded women who moved into Round 3 were Na Li (27), Anna Chakvetadze (30) and Gisela Dulko (31).

Croatian Karolina Sprem also was a Round 2 winner, knocking out Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli (24) in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.