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S WILLIAMS (US) 6 v A MAURESMO (Fra) 29*

6-6

* denotes server

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FIRST SET

Serena 6-6 Mauresmo
Someone has just texted in to say "Serena is playing like a mentalist", which I think is a little bit harsh, she's upped her game as the set has worn on, as has Mauresmo. Mauresmo comes to the net to make it 0-15 but is on the receiving end of a 'shooter' next point. Mauresmo makes it 30-15 with a deep first serve and Mauresmo takes the first set to a tie-break with an accomplished backhand volley.

Serena 6-5 Mauresmo
This one could go all the way. An ace from Williams and she outlasts Mauresmo in the next raly to make it 30-0. Mauresmo ignores the swirling wind to execute an overhead, but is unable to outscrap Williams from the back of the court on the next point and Serena eventually puts her away with a forehand to make it 40-15. And that's the game, Mauresmo only able to chip a return long.

Serena 5-5 Mauresmo
Mauresmo whips a forehand long to make it 15-30 but dredges up a searching first serve which Serena is only able to dribble into the net. And that's Mauresmo's game - another hefty serve and she seals the point with a cross-court forehand.

Serena 5-4 Mauresmo
Williams really misfiring now as she fires a forehand well wide, but she cranks up the noise and punches a volley home to make it 15-30. Mauresmo plops one long to make it 30-30, before the Frenchwoman is unable to dig out a dipping forehand from Williams. But that's deuce, Williams rasping a backhand into the net. Mauresmo, doing little more than bunting her return into play, makes Williams miss with a wild forehand, but Williams pulls out another big serve to bring it back to deuce. HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA! We've got a pigeon! Hilarious, I've not seen laughter like it on Centre since Leconte made a funny face back in 1983. And when the pigeon has scarpered, Williams digs deep to save. Neither player making me swoon at the moment, although you'd probably back Serena to outlast her opponent at the moment.

Serena 4-4 Mauresmo
Williams sends a return miles long to make it 15-0 before Mauresmo digs out another peachy pick-up, before sending a lob wide. Williams playing like a 1981 Bedford camper van at the moment, unable to find second gear, and she fluffs yet another backhand into the net. And we're all square again, Mauresmo finding a solid serve to leave Williams grasping.

Serena 4-3 Mauresmo
Williams with a double-fault and Mauresmo makes it 0-40 with a dreamy top-spin backhand. More like it. Williams brings out a beefy serve to save one and makes it 30-40 with a heat-seeking serve that puffs up the sideline. And Williams hauls it back to deuce with a laced forehand that leaves Mauresmo standing, but fluffs a forehand to give Mauresmo advantage. And that's much better from Mauresmo, pinning Williams to the baseline before punching home the forehand volley.

Serena 4-2 Mauresmo
Extraordinary miss from Mauresmo, Geoffrey Boycott's old woman could have put that volley away with a frying pan full of noodles. Mauresmo manages a smile, but she's not smiling as Williams moves into a 0-30 lead. Not much quality in the next point, Williams eventually poking a forehand volley long, and Mauresmo offers Williams another two break points with a forehand that falls well long. And that's the game, Mauresmo serving up a double-fault, and what a nervy little game we have on our hands.

Serena 3-2 Mauresmo
Double-fault from Williams and it's a strange atmosphere out there, more akin to a care home dining room than a match between two of the top women players in the world on Centre Court. Serena gets a rare round of applause, finishing off a rally with a punched backhand, but Mauresmo earns a break point with a searching forehand into the corner that Serena is unable to hunt down on her backhand side. And that's the break, and we're back with serve.

Serena 3-1 Mauresmo
Williams really in Mauresmo's face so far and she makes it 15-15 with a whipped forehand pass. Mauresmo really struggling out there as she makes another unforced error on the backhand side, but that's gossamer touch from the Frenchwoman, picking up a half-volley off her toes and Williams unable to get a racquet to it. Mauresmo holds, Williams sending a backhand return into the net, and that will be a welcome settler for the 2006 champion.

Serena 3-0 Mauresmo
Williams makes her first unforced error and follows up with her first double-fault. Shaky from Serena, Mauresmo teeing her up with a ballooned return but Williams hammering her forehand into the net to make it 15-40. Serena ignores the bluster to send home an overhead and saves a second break point, Mauresmo only able to plop a return into the net. Williams makes it avantage as the rain begins to fall, and pulls out a meaty serve to hold. The court coverers are hovering, but we're going to carry on for now.

Serena 2-0 Mauresmo
Mauresmo wins her first point when Williams pounds a forehand return into the net, but Mauresmo falls 15-30 behind after plonking a backhand into the net. That's brutal from Williams, leaving Mauresmo floundering with a blistering forehand down the line, and that's a very easy game for Williams, and there doesn't seem to be the power in Mauresmo's groundstrokes that there once was, although it's still very early days.

Serena 1-0 Mauresmo
Serena wins the first point when Mauresmo, stretching at the net, puts her forehand wide. Williams makes his 40-0 with a driven forehand and that's as easy as one-two-three, erm, four, Serena finishing things off with a crashing backhand down the line. Comfy hold.

1617: Serena has dusted off her old rain mac again. "It's not athletic, but it's ladylike," said Serena after her first-round match. I've got to be honest, I think it makes her look like a kinky lab technician. Serena to serve first.

1610: Second match on Centre Court and it's two-time champion Serena Williams versus 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo. Serena the big favourite, not least because her French opponent is nursing a torn left thigh.

(BBC)

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