Venus Williams cruised into the fourth round of Wimbledon as she mercilessly put Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to the sword with a 6-0 6-2 win on Court One.

RAFAEL NADAL made a winning debut under the Centre Court roof as he booked his place in the third round of Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Ryan Sweeting.

Five-time champion Venus Williams rallied from a set down to beat Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm in a match of breathtaking drama under the roof on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

RAFAEL NADAL last night insisted he always plays badly in the first round of the French Open after a straight-sets success against plucky French teenager Gianni Mina.