Serena Williams Opens Wimbledon Defense With Win Over Larcher de Brito

Serena Williams opened the defense of her Wimbledon tennis title with a straight-sets victory against Portugal’s Michelle Larcher de Brito at the All England Club.

The 28-year-old American, who secured her 12th Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, won 6-0, 6-4 in the opening match today on Centre Court.

Her other two Wimbledon titles were in 2002 and 2003. Williams has won 43 straight first-round matches at Grand Slams.

Rafael Nadal of Spain, the men’s No. 2 seed, plays his first match of the championship next on Centre Court, against Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Britain’s Andy Murray is also in action later, against the Czech Republic’s Jan Hajek.

Williams had few problems against her 17-year-old opponent today, completing the victory in 1 hour, 3 minutes.

Larcher de Brito failed to win a game in the opening set, with Williams breaking her opponent to love in the third game and completing a 6-0 score by firing down her fifth ace of the match.

Larcher de Brito recovered from 0-30 to win in the third game of the second set and held again on her next three service games, saving match point in the last of those as Williams missed a backhand.

Williams, who already had a break in the set, wrapped up the win in the next game, taking her tally of aces to 15 in the process.

Querrey Wins

Agnieszka Radwanska, the No. 7 seed from Poland who has reached the quarterfinals the past two years, beat Hungary’s Melinda Czink 6-3, 6-3. No. 19 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, a three-time quarterfinalist, defeated Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta and Jie Zheng of China were other women’s seeds to advance.

In the men’s draw, Sam Querrey of the U.S., the No. 18 seed, reached the second round for a second time after Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky quit their match in the third set. Querrey has won three titles this year, including on grass at Queen’s Club on June 13.