Paris: Venus Williams advanced to the third round of the French Open by beating Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday.
Williams improved to 14-2 on clay in 2010. She's seeded second at Roland Garros behind younger sister Serena, who scouted from behind the baseline, sitting next to their father. The Williams sisters could meet in the final.
Williams took center court for the day's opening match again wearing her lacy corset despite a change in the weather, with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. She went to deuce six times in her first service game before holding, then pulled away to take the first set.
In the second set, both players held until the seventh game. Williams drew Parra Santonja into a moonball rally, then sprinted forward to slam a winner that sent her flounce flying.
That gave Williams a 4-3 lead, and she served out the victory, her 28th in 32 matches this year.
In 13 previous French Open appearances, Williams reached the semifinals only once — in 2002, when she lost to Serena in the final. But at 29, she's enjoying a career resurgence, and her record this year is the best on the women's tour.
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