London, June 28 (DPA) Top seed Amelie Mauresmo led former Wimbledon winners Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams to storming victories into the second round Wednesday.
Mauresmo, the reigning Australian Open holder, crushed Croatian number 192 Ivana Abramovic, who was playing her first match at the event, 6-0, 6-0.
That quick-fire victory set up the momentum for 2004 Wimbledon champion Sharapova, who pounded Israeli Anna Smashnova, 6-2, 6-0.
Sixth-seed and defending champion Williams, holder of three titles at the All England club, was untroubled by fellow American Bethanie Mattek, wearing unusual knee-length white socks, 6-1, 6-0.
Mauresmo produced 20 winners against the 22-year-old Abramovic from Zagreb to move into a match against the winner from Australian Samantha Stosur and Michaella Krajick of the Netherlands.
Sharapova, seeded fourth, won her 16th match against just two Wimbledon defeats. Williams broke the number 103 Mattack from Miami five times while facing only one break point against her serve.
In the men's section, Mardy Fish put out American compatriot Robby Ginepri 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 while American Justin Gimelstob defeated Belgium's Christophe Rochus 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Finn Jarkko Nieminen overwhelmed Brazil's Marcos Daniel 6-2, 6-4, 7-5. Thailand lost its final men's contender as Russian Dmitry Tursunov defeated Danai Udomchoke 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, a day after Paradorn Srichaphan was beaten in the first round.
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