By Chris Oddo | Monday June 27, 2016
Venus Williams and Madison Keys took care of business on Day One, as each won in straight sets.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
For the first time since 2005, three American women are seeded at a major, and two of the three moved through nicely on Day 1.
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9th-seeded Madison Keys blasted past Germany’s Laura Siegemund, 6-1, 6-3, while 8th-seeded and five-time champion Venus Williams worked her way past Donna Vekic, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Williams’ hard-fought victory marked a significant milestone for the 36-year-old. Her 19th Wimbledon appearance is also her 71st at a Grand Slam, tying her with Amy Frazier for the WTA’s all-time lead.
She’s 36 now, but Williams indicates that she’s going on 26. "I still feel 26, so…” Williams said. “You know, I don't think anyone feels older. You have this infinity inside of you that feels like you could go forever. That's how I feel on the court. As long as I'm halfway decent, can get my racquet on the ball, I think I can make something happen. So far so good.”
Williams, who improved to 77-13 with her victory, will face Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the second round. Sakkari defeated Saisai Zheng in straight sets to earn her first Wimbledon win and second at a major.
Keys, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year and won the title at Eastbourne just over a week ago, was in scary form as she hit past Germany’s Laura Siegemund in 63 minutes.
The American has now won six in a row and will next face Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens in the second round. Flipkens a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2013, defeated American Nicole Gibbs, 6-3, 6-1.