Wimbledon 2021: Eighth seed Karolina Pliskova battles back to beat Tamara Zidansek

Venus Williams
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Venus Williams is making her 23rd appearance in the Wimbledon singles draw
Venue: All England Club Dates: 28 June-11 July
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details here

Five-time Wimbledon singles champion Venus Williams beat Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round at SW19 on her 90th Grand Slam appearance.

The American, playing in her 23rd Wimbledon singles draw at the age of 41, beat the Romanian 7-5 4-6 6-3.

Williams led 5-1 in the third set and squandered two match points before turning and celebrating to her box as she converted the third.

She will play Tunisia’s 21st seed Ons Jabeur in the second round.

Williams, now ranked 111th in the world, was playing in just her 10th match of the season.

She made her first appearance at Wimbledon in 1997 and won her first Grand Slam singles title on the SW19 grass courts three years later.

Jabeur, who won her first WTA singles title in Birmingham earlier this month, swept past Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson 6-2 6-1 in 62 minutes.

Former world number one Karolina Pliskova overcame a first-set scare to beat Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek and advance.

The Czech trailed 5-2 in the opening set before recovering to beat the French Open semi-finalist 7-5 6-4.

She will face Donna Vekic next after the Croat beat Russia’s Anastasia Potapova 6-1 6-4.

Vera Zvonareva, runner-up to Serena Williams in 2010, claimed her first Wimbledon victory in seven years as she beat Marie Bouzkova 7-5 6-4.

However, veteran Australian Sam Stosur, 37, was beaten 6-1 5-7 6-3 by Shelby Rogers.

American Madison Brengle saved four match points to overcome compatriot Christina McHale 3-6 7-5 10-8.

McHale led the final two sets 5-3 and served for the match three times but was unable to hold her nerve to register victory.

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