Sabalenka overcomes Bouzkova challenge to reach Wimbledon third round / Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV - AFP
-
As Venezuela quake deaths pass 3,000, attention turns to mourning, burials
-
Gotterup wins PGA John Deere after Kohles splashdown
-
FIFA clear US star Balogun to play in World Cup after Trump call
-
Haaland knocks Brazil out of World Cup as Norway reach quarters
-
Gauff downs Bencic to book maiden Wimbledon quarter-final
-
'Catastrophic' Super Typhoon Bavi hits US island of Rota
-
Spain boss backs Yamal to sparkle in Portugal World Cup showdown
-
West Indies trail Sri Lanka by 231 runs
-
Australia's World Cup final win vindicates Molineux's self-belief
-
FIFA clear US star Balogun to play after Trump call
-
Sinner powers into fifth straight Wimbledon quarter-final
-
Venezuela quake survivor 'reborn' after eight days in rubble
-
Euphoric homecoming for Cape Verde after heroic World Cup run ends
-
Red-card U-turn rocks World Cup as England face Azteca test
-
White supremacist march in DC just 'messy' democracy, official says
-
Struff oldest first-time men's Slam quarter-finalist in Open era
-
'Perfectionist' Djokovic not happy to win ugly at Wimbledon
-
Banana!: 'Minions' knocks 'Toy Story' off N.America box office perch
-
'Catastrophic' Super Typhoon Bavi aims at US Pacific island Rota
-
Sabalenka wants to drink, 'forget about tennis' after Wimbledon exit
-
Reflective Ronaldo takes on critics 'trying to kill me for 23 years'
-
Mooney stars as Australia hammer England in women's World Cup final
-
Verstappen claims Red Bull car 'dangerous' after crash
-
Djokovic makes history, Osaka sends Sabalenka crashing out of Wimbledon
-
Trump thanks FIFA for suspending USA's Balogun World Cup ban
-
Osaka beats world number one Sabalenka in Wimbledon last 16
-
Mooney stars as Australia hammer England in women's T20 World Cup final
-
Eala eyeing Wimbledon quarters, Dimitrov faces Fery
-
Russell concedes Ferrari are threat to Mercedes
-
'Privileged' Del Toro wins Tour de France stage, Pogacar up to 2nd
-
Leclerc snaps winless run to reignite title race
-
Del Toro too tired to watch Mexico World Cup clash
-
Infernos devastate forests as Europe's temperatures rise again
-
Court frees Albania protesters held after violent clashes
-
'Tough' Leclerc delivers Ferrari's 250th win with victory in British GP
-
Four-legged rescuers lead way after Venezuela quakes
-
Tour de France stage 3rd stage to go ahead despite forest fires: official
-
France show they can ditch flair and win a different way in World Cup quest
-
Spain's Rodri warns Portugal best yet to come at World Cup
-
Australia hold England to 150-4 in Women's T20 World Cup final
-
Djokovic makes Wimbledon history to reach quarter-finals
-
Leclerc delivers Ferrari's 250th win with victory in British GP
-
Del Toro wins Tour de France stage, Pogacar up to 2nd
-
White supremacist march in DC just 'messy' democracy: US official
-
Euphoric homecoming for Cape Verde after heroic World Cup defeat
-
'Country Roads' stars as unofficial US anthem at World Cup
-
Tour de France stage under threat due to forest fires: official
-
F1 boss Domenicali hopes to restore cancelled Gulf grand prix
-
UK hard-right leader Farage faces new allegations over gifts
-
Real Madrid sign Dumfries from Inter Milan
Sabalenka overcomes Bouzkova challenge to reach Wimbledon third round
World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a tough test to beat Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 and progress to the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday, avoiding the fate of many of her title rivals.
A number of top players exited in the first round at the All England Club, including second seed Coco Gauff, third seed Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen.
Top seed Sabalenka was pushed hard by Bouzkova in Wednesday's opening match on Centre Court as her Czech opponent matched fire with fire in a bruising encounter.
The first set went with serve until Sabalenka doubled-faulted in the 11th game to give her 48th-ranked opponent the chance to serve for the set.
But the Belarusian broke back with a searing backhand down the line and came out on top in the tie-break to establish a foothold in the match.
Sabalenka broke again in the fifth game of the second set to move within sight of victory and closed out the match with little fuss.
Although Sabalenka is a three-time Grand Slam champion, she has suffered agonising three-set defeats in this year's Australian Open and French Open finals.
The 27-year-old has never been beyond the Wimbledon semi-finals and missed last year's tournament with a shoulder injury.
W.Stewart--AT
