Safina powers past Flipkens

Top seed Dinara Safina cruised into the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.

Safina’s experience was crucial in the opening set as it helped her to overcome some stubborn resistance from the Flipkens.

A timely break of serve enabled the Russian to close it out 7-5.

But in the second set, Flipkens was no match for the Moscow-born 23-year-old who raced into a 5-1 lead.

Flipkens found it almost impossible to hold serve and Safina’s armoury of passing shots made her invincible.

When it came to the crucial moment, Safina broke serve again to take the second set 6-1 and the match.

The top seed will now face France’s Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round.