Venus shows title credentials

Venus Williams made nonsense of suggestions that her days as a major contender may not have far to run as she cruised to an opening day win.

Just before the rains came for a second time to send the players scurrying off Court One, Williams completed the 6-3 6-0 demolition of gallant Swiss Marie-Gayanay Mikaelian with 48 minutes of familiar power.

The twice former champion, beaten in the last two Wimbledon finals by sister Serena, has been accused of shying away from match-practice in favour of other interests such as fashion and fund-raising.

And twice this year she has defaulted from critical matches with a niggling knee injury, slipping down the world rankings and into the shadow of a host of upcoming stars.

She went down to new Russian star Anastasia Myskina in the quarter-finals at the French Open last month and questions were starting to be asked about her future.

But despite the growing Russian revolution, it looks a huge task for any of the top contenders – given extra incentive by the withdrawal of Belgian pair Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters – to oppose another Williams triumph.

And three weeks past her 24th birthday, it might just be Venus’s turn again.

All the old power was in evidence as she made her second serve an ace. And although Mikaelian bravely held her own delivery three times, five more aces flashed past her before the end of the first set which was only briefly delayed by a downpour as Williams led 5-3 and 15-all.

The California girl struggled to close it up when they resumed, needing her best first-serves to ward off a couple of break-points and a fortunate decision when a volley looked long.

But even though there were still occasional signs of sloppiness, better players than Mikaelian – who also lost to Williams in straight sets on clay in Charleston earlier this year – would have struggled to avoid a whitewash in the second.