22 Jun 2011

Venus advances to second round showdown with Date-Krumm

12:15 pm on 22 June 2011

The five-time champion Venus Williams and 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm have reached Wimbledon's second round after striking an early blow for the tournament's senior citizens at the 125th Championships.

The 31-year-old Williams was untroubled in disposing of Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3 6-1, showing no signs of the hip injury which kept her off the tour for five months until her Eastbourne return last week.

The American, whose choice of a loose-fitting, lace-like top and baggy white shorts caused as much conversation as her free-flowing tennis on Court Two, fired 23 winners past the Uzbek.

Williams now takes on Date-Krumm who became the second oldest winner of a singles match at Wimbledon with her 6-0 7-5 demolition of British wild card Katie O'Brien.