Federer, Ivanisevic through, Venus out

Roger Federer pulverised Alejandro Falla in just 54 breathtaking minutes on Thursday to reach the third round at Wimbledon. The Swiss top seed and champion allowed his Colombian opponent just 33 points in the entire match as he underlined his status as the man to beat with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win.

Second seed Andy Roddick reached the second round on Centre Court, beating Taiwan’s Yeu-Tzuoo Wang 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 and seventh seed and 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt beat Georgia’s Irakli Labadze 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the third. Hewitt will next play the man whose title he inherited, Goran Ivanisevic, after the Croatian pulled off a spectacular 4-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over Italy’s Filippo Volandri.

Third seed Guillermo Coria needed only 97 seconds to reach the second round as the rain which washed out day three mostly stayed away. The Argentine needed just two points for victory in hismatch with Wesley Moodie which had been carried over since Monday. He won them both to advance.

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In the women’s draw, fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo thrashed Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3. Seventh seed Jennifer Capriati also advanced. She brushed aside Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-2.

The big upset though was that of American Venus Williams’s, who lost to Croatia’s Karolina Sprem in straight sets 6-7, 6-7.