Venus thunders into fourth round

Champion Venus Williams cranked up the power on Saturday to thunder into the fourth round of Wimbledon on Saturday, beating Spanish qualifier Maria Martinez Sanchez 6-1 7-5. The American, pursuing a fifth title at the All England Club, appeared to be...

Champion Venus Williams cranked up the power on Saturday to thunder into the fourth round of Wimbledon on Saturday, beating Spanish qualifier Maria Martinez Sanchez 6-1 7-5.

The American, pursuing a fifth title at the All England Club, appeared to be in a hurry to join sister Serena in the last 16 and went about her task with ruthless efficiency.

Left hander Martinez Sanchez had taken a set off Venus in their only previous meeting but during the first 22 minutes of their contest on Saturday it seemed she might be heading for a dreaded whitewash.

Venus raced into a 5-0 lead and though Martinez Sanchez briefly interrupted the run to win her first game, the 28-year-old American sealed the set with a 188 kph serve. The Spaniard provided stiffer resistance in the second before Venus ended the match with her fastest delivery of the day, a 204 kph thunderbolt.

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