Serena sees off hobbling Mauresmo at Wimbledon

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Serena Williams won the battle of former champions when she beat France's Amelie Mauresmo 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 on Friday to reach the Wimbledon last 16.

Williams, the 2002 and 2003 champion, goes on to face Bethanie Mattek for a place in the quarter-finals after her fellow American put out 2007 runner-up Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-1.

Both players struggled into the gloomy, windy conditions on Centre Court with four breaks of serve in the opening set before Williams took the tiebreaker.

But the contest was virtually over at the changeover when Mauresmo needed treatment on her injured left thigh, the same problem which forced her to withdraw from the Eastbourne event last week.

Williams raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set before the 28-year-old...