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Raymond sends Sanchez-Vicario packing; Agassi too good

Wimbledon's court No 2 lived up to its reputation as the "graveyard of champions" as Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario made her earliest exit from Wimbledon in seven years.

The Spaniard, a Wimbledon finalist in 1995 and 1996, was sent packing by 37th ranked Lisa Raymond 7-6, 6-1 in the second round of the women's singles today.

It took the American just over an hour to topple the seventh seed, a former world No. 1, and winner of the French Open twice and US Open once.

The Spaniard was in all sorts of trouble right from the start, unable to strike up a good rhythm as Raymond returned well and passed her time and again. She lost the tie-break 7-4, but came out fighting in the second set, winning the opening game to love.

It raised visions of a recovery. However, it was the only time she was she was able to hold serve in the set, as the 25-year-old Raymond piled on the pressure to wrap up game, set and match with clinical efficiency in just 25 minutes.

Raymond meets 1994 champion Conchita Martinez next.

In another women's match that got over almost at the same time, Lindsay Davenport of the US, seeded third, beat Karina Habsudova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 to also make the third round.

However, if one was looking for a classy performance, it came from none other than former champion Andre Agassi.

The fourth seeded French Open champion blasted Argentine Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in a baseline battle on court one, to reach the third round of the men's singles.

Also making it to the third round in style was Tim Henman of Britain, who completed his unfinished match of yesterday, against American Chris Woodruff, in quick time. The sixth seed won 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

The match was stopped at 3-2 in the American's favour in the second set on Wednesday, after Henman refused to play because of darkness.

Henman meets Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, runner-up in the Lipton championship in Key Biscayne this year, tomorrow.

Eighth seed Todd Martin of the US and tenth seed Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia too were through to the third round. Martin beat Jiri Novak (Czech Repbublic) 7-6(7-5), 6-4, 6-4, while Ivanisevic got the better of Sandon Stolle of Australia 7-6(10-8), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Agencies