Williams shifts doubts

Just for a few minutes Venus Williams looked uncertain, but once she realised the clouds were not going to roll by, the 2000 and 2001 champion set about the task of firing herself towards another final.

In the end a 6-4 6-1 scoreline was further testimony to her power and quality but at the start, when the first rains of Wimbledon had already come briefly to Centre Court, a shiver was almost detectable in Williams.

Again she paraded her immaculate, new corset-backed dress for the second round clash with Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik.

Her rival, the same age at 23, sported a baseball cap and ankle-socks – and for the opening few games looked better prepared for business.

The pair had met, just once, four years ago and Williams won in straight sets. She should be better than that now, but you never know.

Maybe it was Srebotnik who was upwardly mobile. She had, after all, reached the world number 42 ranking.

Certainly, in the opening skirmishes, she outscored the American for first serves in – and held her delivery just as comfortably.

That was until the sixth game when Venus suddenly decided to raise the stakes.

She served a love game as a warning and then immediately rattled her opponent with the kind of shotgun returning that made her famous.

Again it was a love game – against the serve and virtually providing the end of all doubt.

Williams wrapped up the set with two aces and although the battling Srebotnik threatened another gritty start to the second, Williams broke again for 2-1 and then twice more to end the contest.