Serena Bounces Bovina in Third-Round Match

Playing with more confidence and more consistency in her game, top-seeded Serena Williams ousted an upset-minded Elena Bovina, 6-4, 6-2, before a capacity crowd at the Acura Classic.

After nearly being upset in her opening match by Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, Williams cut down on her errors against Bovina, who had eliminated Eleni Daniilidou of Greece in her second-round match.

Bovina fell behind 5-2 in the first set, but scored a service break against Williams and then held serve to make the score 5-4.

After the changeover, Williams served for the set. At 30-30 Bovina hit an approach shot and came to net.

Williams responded with a hard-hit forehand at Bovina who punched a volley wide to give the American set point.

With the crowd at the La Costa Resort and Spa cheering loudly, Williams stepped up to the baseline and boomed a 118-mph serve deep to Bovina’s backhand for a service winner to secure the first set.

In the second set, Williams picked up her serve as she lost only four service points. At 2-2, she went on to break Bovina’s serve twice in closing out the match in one-hour and eight minutes.

Next for Williams will be a Friday afternoon quarterfinal match against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva.

• This was the first career meeting between Williams and Bovina.
• As the top seed, Williams received a bye in the first round.
• Williams is ranked 14th in the world.
• Williams is making her Acura Classic singles debut. She reached the doubles final here in 1999 with her sister Venus.
• Williams improves her 2004 match record to 28-5.
• Williams has won 24 WTA Tour singles titles.
• Bovina was playing in the Acura Classic for the first time.
• Bovina’s 2004 match record is now 15-10.
• Bovina is ranked 22 in the world.
• Bovina defeated 15th seeded Francesca Schiavone in the first round.
  

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