Venus has to work for win

Defending champion Venus Williams ran into a real battle on Court One today and had to come from behind to reach the women’s last 16.

Williams was rocked by 110-ranked Canadian Maureen Drake and was broken four times in the match before triumphing 5-7 6-2 6-1.

She was broken to love in the very first game of the match and when she netted a big forehand 12 games later Drake snatched the set and sparked suggestions of a major upset.

But from the start of the second set Williams flicked onto a different level and produced the precision which her early game had lacked.

Williams took the second set but could not close out the match in style - broken again when she served for the match and made to do it the hard way.