Venus Survives Second Round Scare

Venus Williams turned it up just in time. On the brink of a mammoth upset, the defending Wimbledon champion fought off American Lisa Raymond's strong challenge to comeback and win her second round match 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2 on Court 1 at the All England Club Thursday.

"It's all about surviving to another day," Williams told reporters at a postmatch conference. "I felt that it would be such a shame to lose in the second round, because I am playing so well."

Best known for her 56 career doubles titles, Raymond was two points away from her biggest singles win. Serving for a spot in the third round leading 7-6, 5-3 and 30-15, the 32 year-old from Pennsylvania couldn't finish off the resilient three-time Wimbledon champ.

"She got a glimpse of me getting tight and getting upset with myself and realized, `Hey, I'm back in this match,'" Raymond lamented.

Staring defeat in the face, the 26 year-old sixth seed raised her level dramatically. Taking control of points earlier with kniving groundstrokes which produced 49 winners including a crosscourt backhand that setup break point, she broke back on an errant Raymond forehand. After easily holding serve to stay in the match, she broke once again before holding to run off the last five games of the set to square the match.

Williams rode the momentum into the third set by easily capturing the first four games before Raymond mercifully held serve to stop her unanswered streak of games at nine. By then the damage had been done. Williams held twice more finishing it off in style with her 11th ace.

"It was all very exciting," she added. "It's important to think about finding the solution before time runs out. That's pretty much what I did."

Not a moment too soon.

Also advancing into Round 3 was top seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, who had an easier time defeating Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-2.

2004 winner Maria Sharapova (4) also was victorious, eliminating American Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-2. Also advancing was seventh seeded Russian Elena Dementieva in three sets over American Meghann Shaughnessy 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Ninth seeded Russian Anastasia Myskina posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Martina Muller.

Yet another Russian moved into the third round when 14th seeded Dinara Safina eliminated American Mashona Washington in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Also needing three sets was 15th seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who dismissed American Jamea Jackson 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Another three set winner was 23rd seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, who outlasted Argentina's Clarisa Fernandez 6-7 (7), 7-5, 11-9. Serbia and Montenegro's Jelena Jankovic was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 winner over American Vania King.

Italian Flavia Pennetta (16) eliminated a seventh American woman Laura Granville in easier fashion 6-2, 6-1.

While it wasn't a great day for American women, Amy Frazier and Shenay Perry were two others besides Williams who were victorious. Frazier defeated Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-3 while Perry beat Great Britain's Melanie South 7-6 (5), 6-2.

There were three women's seeds who were upset. The highest seed to fall was No. 8 Patty Schnyder, who lost to Frenchwoman Severine Bremond 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. China's Shuai Peng defeated Israel's Shahar Peer (20) 6-4, 7-6 (5). Also eliminated was Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin (29), who fell to Australian Nicole Pratt 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Other seeds who are into Round 3 included Ana Ivanovic (19), Katarina Srebotnik (20) and Elena Likhovtseva (25).

Women's third round action gets underway Friday featuring French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne (3), 2005 U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters (2), Nicole Vaidisova (10) and 1997 Wimbledon winner Martina Hingis (12) all looking to move into the Round of 16.