Wimbledon 2013: Serena Williams proceeds to 3rd round

Serena Williams. PHOTO/Getty Images

Five-time champion Serena Williams avoided the kind of early upset that has sent many top players tumbling out of Wimbledon, beating Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the third round.

A day after Roger Federer topped the list of big names to go out in the second round, the top-ranked Williams was never in trouble against the 100th-ranked French qualifier.

Williams broke twice in each set to advance to a match with Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm, who at 42 became the oldest woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon in the Open era.

Date-Krumm beat Alexandra Cadantu of Romania 6-4, 7-5 to reach the third round for the first time since 1996, when she made it to the semifinals.

“She’s incredibly inspiring,” the 31-year-old Williams said about Date-Krumm. “She’s so fit, she’s done so well. I’ve never played her before. I watched her play when I was super young, growing up.”

Whether Williams can keep playing for another decade remains to be seen, but she certainly doesn’t show any sign of slowing down in her 30s. The defending champion is looking for a sixth Wimbledon title.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press