Wimbledon 2012 Update: Sharapova and Serena Both Victorious on Thursday
World number one-ranked Maria Sharapova overcame a second-set bump in the road before finishing off Tsvetana Pironkova, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-0 on Thursday to reach the third round at Wimbledon. Fresh off her win at Roland Garros and clinching the final piece to her career Grand Slam, Sharapova is aiming for a second Wimbledon crown after winning in 2004 as a 17-year-old. The top-ranked Russian led 3-1 in the second set when the match was halted due to poor lighting.
"Today I wanted to start off really well because I knew I was up a break, but it didn’t go according to plan. I really served sloppy," Sharapova said. "In the third, I changed it around. There wasn’t anything specific I did—we were playing with the same balls, I played with the same racquet—I just told myself to do better."
Also advancing to the next round is four-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, who hit 10 aces in a 6-1, 6-4 win over Hungarian qualifier Melinda Czink. Williams won 37 of 44 points while serving, including 27 of 28 on first serves, and never faced a break point. Williams is seeded sixth at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, as she is trying to win the 14th Grand Slam title of her career, but first in two years.
"I play really well when I’m relaxed, so I’ve just got to get there," said Serena.
Next up for Sharapova is Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-Wei, while Serena will face the number 25 seed, China’s Jie Zheng.
