Venus Blasts Her Way Past Razzano Into Third Round

On a sunny afternoon on Stadium Court at the Acura Classic, tenth-seeded Venus Williams advanced to the third round with a solid, 6-2, 6-4, victory over Virginie Razzano of France.

Williams, who began the 1-hour and 29-minute match with an ace, held serve at love to start the first set. She then played a 20-point game with six deuces before she broke Razzano to take a 2-0 lead. After building a 5-2 lead, Williams broke Razzano again to wrap up the first set in 41 minutes.

In the second set, both players stayed on serve until the score reached 3-3. Williams had a temporary lapse in concentration as she hit three straight double faults in dropping serve to give Razzano a 4-3 lead.

A determined Williams stormed back and attacked each short ball and lost only two points in the next two games to regain the lead at 5-4.

Razzano, serving to stay in the match, fell behind 0-40 as she hit two forehands long and Williams stroked a beautiful down the line backhand winner.

On Williams’ first match point of the afternoon, she blasted a forehand off a short ball that Razzano was unable to return.

Williams, who overcame six double faults, converted on five of 11 break point opportunities during the match.

• Williams advances to the third round where she will face sixth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova.
• Williams is ranked 16 in the world.
• Williams improves her 2007 match record to 27-4.
• Williams is making her 8th career Acura Classic appearance. She won the title here in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
• Williams has won 35 career tour titles including six Grand Slam singles titles.
• Williams now leads Razzano 2-0 in career head-to-head titles.
• Williams has represented the U.S. in Fed Cup play.
• Razzano is ranked 59 in the world.
• Razzano was making her third career Acura Classic appearance.
• Razzano reached the fourth round of the 2006 US Open.
• Razzano has represented France in Fed Cup play.

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