Wimbledon 2008: Venus Rises to Keothavong Challenge and Powers to Victory

Venus Williams reached the third round at Wimbledon today but not before being made to fight all the way against a British player for the second match in succession. Anne Keothavong forced the defending champion to save nine break points on Center Court before the American edged a hard-fought first set 7-5. The four-time winner then won the second with rather more comfort, 6-2, to end the Briton's challenge.

In the opening set Williams took a 2-0 lead with the loss of only one point before Keothavong, 92nd in the world, responded with some excellent tennis. The 24-year-old broke back immediately, saved four break points to level at 2-2, and then forced eight on Williams' serve in an amazing fifth game.

The American clung on desperately with the aid of some powerful serving and after saving another break point, eventually it was Keothavong who cracked. After almost missing the ball entirely with her first serve at 30-30 in the 12th game, two unforced errors from the Londoner gifted Williams the break and the set, 7-5.

Keothavong continued to look for her shots, but Williams grew stronger as the match progressed, breaking serve in the fourth game of the second set. A double-fault gave Williams a break point and when a superb return forced Keothavong into an error, she smashed a ball into the turf after going 3-1 behind. That frustration was only increased when another double-fault gave Williams two match points and a forehand error handed her the match after one hour 44 minutes.