Venus survives Morigami scare

Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 02 July 2007 / Leave a Comment

Venus Williams served up another scare for her supporters but eventually secured her passage to the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 6-2 3-6 7-5 win over Akiko Morigami.

The three-time Wimbledon champion had resumed at 6-2 1-4 up on Monday, after rain had ended Saturday's play, but it was the world number 71 who assumed control.

Williams made a number of double faults and although she saved nine set points in the second set, Morigami eventually completed a third break of serve to level the match.

The deciding set went with serve to the eighth game when Morigami took the initiative, thanks to Williams' 14th double fault.

However, the Japanese 27-year-old lost her nerve when serving for the set at 5-3 and Williams took advantage to finally seal the win, which finished in the rain.

The world number 31 will now take on second seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round. The Russian is trading as the early 1.2 favourite in a developing match odds market, with Williams available at 2.8.

Sharapova, on offer at 8 to lift the women's title, holds a 3-1 lead in head-to-heads against Williams (a 28 chance for Wimbledon glory), but it is worth noting that the American has won their only meeting on grass.

That came two years ago in the semi-finals at SW19 when Williams triumphed in straight sets, 7-6 (7-2) 6-1, before beating Lindsay Davenport in an epic final.