Tennis: Serena destroys Serna to reach last 16

7.40am

LONDON - Defending champion Serena Williams thrashed Spain's Magui Serna 6-4 6-0 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round on Sunday.

The American, seeking her third successive singles crown at the All England Club, started steadily but eventually her power and movement overwhelmed the 53-ranked Spaniard on Centre Court.

Williams barely broke sweat as Serna handed her victory with an errant service return on the American's second match point.

She faces either France's Tatiana Golovin or Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland in the last 16.

Results of women's singles matches on Sunday (prefix denotes seeding):

Third round

4-Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Ludmila Cervanova (Slovakia) 6-1 6-4

Rita Grande (Italy) beat Virginie Razzano (France) 6-4 4-6 6-3

Karolina Sprem (Croatia) beat 32-Meghann Shaughnessy (US) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-2)

9-Paola Suarez (Argentina) beat Anne Kremer (Luxembourg) 6-1 4-6 6-0

21-Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgaria) beat Denisa Chladkova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-3

10-Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Tatiana Perebiynis (Ukraine) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2

7-Jennifer Capriati (US) beat 25-Nathalie Dechy (France) 7-5 6-1

- REUTERS