Venus Williams (Washington Kastles) advanced to the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday, defeating Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 on No.1 Court.
For the second time in three days, the ninth-seeded Williams found herself down a set, but quickly regrouped. The five-time champion wiped away seven of the eight break points she faced and finished with 29 winners to 25 unforced errors. With the win, Williams improved to 18-1 record in her second-round encounters at the grass-court major.
Last year‘s WTT Female Rookie of the Year ┬¡┬¡┬¡Yanina Wickmayer (Orange County Breakers) joined Williams in the winners‘ circle. Wickmayer overcame Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-3 to reach the third round at the All England Club for the first time in six years. On Friday, Wickmayer takes on Croatia‘s Donna Vekic.
Breakers‘ teammate Sam Querrey was victorious in his second-round matchup, eliminating Sergiy Stakhovsky 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3. Querrey, a semifinalist in 2017, next clashes with Gael Monfils. The Frenchman holds a 2-0 edge in the pair‘s head-to-head series but this is their first meeting on grass.
On the doubles court, the #WTTFamily men enjoyed a strong first day of play.
Home favorites Neal Skupski (New York Empire) and Ken Skupski were in control the whole way through their opener, defeating Ilija Bozoljac and Damir Dzumhar 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Skupskis, who posted their best major result in reaching the last eight here a year ago, won their first team title earlier this year in Montpellier.
Robert Lindstedt (Kastles) and Robin Haase ousted 10th seeds Ivan Dodig and Rajeev Ram 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-3 to take their first-round match. Lindstedt is a three-time former finalist at The Championships and will play his first full season of WTT following this tournament.
San Diego Aviators‘ teammates Marcin Matkowski and Taylor Fritz also moved on with their respective partners. Matkowski and Erlich topped Jonathan Eysseric and Hugo Nys 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 7-6(8), while Fritz and Ebden beat Peter Gojowczyk and Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Nicole Melichar (Kastles) and Kveta Peschke excelled in women‘s doubles action. The 12th seeds dismissed Anett Kontaveit and Monica Puig 6-4, 6-2. Melichar and Peschke captured their first team trophy in May at Prague.
#WTTFamily In Action On Day 4 ÔÇô July 5, 2018
No.1 Court
Taylor Fritz (San Diego) ÔÇô fourth on
No.2 Court
Naomi Osaka (Washington) ÔÇô first on
Kevin Anderson (Philadelphia) to finish 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 1-1 vs. Seppi ÔÇô second on
No.3 Court
Eugenie Bouchard (New York) ÔÇô first on
Court 12
John Isner (New York) to finish 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-7(3), 3-4 vs. Bemelmans ÔÇô second on
Court 5
Gabriela Dabrowski (Philadelphia) and Yifan Xu to finish 6-7(5), 6-2, 2-3 vs Riske/Savchuk ÔÇô fourth on
Court 6
Andreja Klepac (Orange County) and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (New York) ÔÇô fifth on
Court 9
Raquel Atawo (Philadelphia) and Anna-Lena Groenefeld (San Diego) ÔÇô second on
Tatjana Maria (New York) and Heather Watson ÔÇô third on
Mike Bryan (Washington) and Jack Sock (Springfield) ÔÇô fourth on
Court 10
Vania King (Springfield) and Katarina Srebotnik ÔÇô second on
Abigail Spears (Springfield) and Alicja Rosolska ÔÇô third on
Court 11
Marcelo Demoliner (Orange County) and Santiago Gonzalez ÔÇô fourth on
Court 14
Stephane Robert (Orange County) ÔÇô second on
Court 15
Frances Tiafoe (Washington) ÔÇô first on
Court 16
Taylor Townsend (Philadelphia) ÔÇô third on
Daniel Nestor (Springfield) and Jurgen Melzer ÔÇô fifth on
