| Serena Williams remains on course for a record 24th Grand Slam title that has proved elusive over the past year |
Harriet Dart’s fine Wimbledon run ended with a bruising defeat by world number one Ashleigh Barty in the third round.
It was a singles debut on Centre Court for both women but the gulf was all too clear as Barty wrapped up a 6-1 6-1 victory in just 53 minutes to reach the fourth round for the first time with a 15th consecutive win.
The considerable consolation for Britain’s Dart is that by reaching the third round she had far exceeded expectations and her ranking will rise from its current 182 into the top 140.
As is customary on middle Saturday, the start of play was delayed while the sporting royalty in the Royal Box was introduced and the work of the members of the Armed Forces who serve as stewards applauded.
The biggest cheer came when Rod Laver was presented with a replica trophy to mark 50 years since the second of his calendar Grand Slams.
The Red Arrows’ fly past came a little late and, unfortunately for Dart, in between her first and second serves.
This was the second time this year that the 22-year-old has found herself on one of the biggest stages in tennis taking on a star of the game after losing 6-0 6-0 to Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Australian Open.
Serena Williams laid down a marker in her bid for an eighth Wimbledon title with a straight-sets win over the dangerous Julia Goerges.
In a repeat of last year’s semi-final, Williams was too strong for the German 18th seed and triumphed 6-3 6-4.
Maybe hitting with Andy Murray, her mixed doubles partner, on Friday has had a positive effect as the American was moving and serving much better than in her first two matches.
Williams, seeded 11, secured a break for 4-2 in the first set and despite some concerted Goerges pressure she served it out.
Goerges is no slouch with the ball in her hand either but the relentless Williams returns forced another break, at the fourth attempt, for 3-2 in the second.
Williams had not dropped a set in her four previous encounters with Goerges and she maintained that record to demonstrate that, at 37, she remains a major contender for the title.
“I just need to keep it up,” said Williams, recently back from a knee injury.
“Each match for me really counts. I haven’t had a tremendous amount. It’s just about keeping going, doing what I’m doing in practice hopefully.
“I play pretty good when I’m calm, but also super intense. It’s a hard balance to find because sometimes when I’m too calm, I don’t have enough energy. I’m still trying to find that balance.”
Press Association