Pierce Bursts Testud's Bubble

A businesslike Mary Pierce cared little for sentiment today as she dismissed eighth seeded French compatriot and close friend Sandrine Testud 6-3 6-4 in ruthless fashion to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

After keeping Testud waiting for her arrival on to court 13, Pierce's scowl soon changed to a sunny smile and she underlined her recent revival by displaying her best form of the championships for three years.

There was no sign of the back and ankle injuries that have plagued her for a year as the world No74 broke in Testud's first service game and proceeded to tease her 30-year-old opponent almost at will.

Pierce, a quarter-finalist at this year's French Open, mixed delightful drop shots with some devastating hitting from the back of the court to set up a third round meeting with Laura Granville of the United States.

Earlier, American Chanda Rubin swept past 14th seed Iroda Tulyaganova 6-3 6-1 to become the first player to reach the third round. Uzbekistan's Tulyaganova, the highest seeded casualty in the women's draw so far, failed to make any impact on Rubin's serve and was clearly out of her depth on a sun-baked court two.

Rubin, who has been plagued by injuries throughout her career and underwent knee surgery earlier this year, clearly felt at home on grass as she continued in the same vein that landed her the Eastbourne title last weekend.

Tulyaganova, 20, rarely ventured beyond the baseline and was time and again punished by the attacking Rubin who controlled play from the net.

Rubin, who has now equalled her furthest progression at the All England Club, will now face the winner of the all-Russian clash between Elena Bovina and 21st seed Tatiana Panova.

Results of women's singles second round matches (prefix number denotes seeding):

Miriam Oremans (Netherlands) beat 13-Meghann Shaugnessy (U.S.) 7-5 6-3

Mary Pierce (France) beat 8-Sandrine Testud (France) 6-3 6-4

Laura Granville (US) beat Marlene Weingartner (Germany) 6-3 6-4

9-Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Rita Grande (Italy) 6-4 6-2

Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) beat Saori Obata (Japan) 6-2 6-2

Chanda Rubin (US) beat 14-Iroda Tulyaganova (Uzbekistan) 6-3 6-1