London: Five-time champion Venus Williams overcame a slow start to beat Kurumi Nara 7-6 (4), 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the third round of a major for only the second time in her last 10 Grand Slam tournaments.
The 30th-seeded American won six straight points in the tiebreaker and ran off six straight games in the second set to beat Nara on Court 3 at the All England Club.
Williams served seven aces and had 43 winners.
Nara took a medical timeout and received treatment from the trainer on her upper left leg.
Williams, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, lost in the first round in her last appearance at Wimbledon in 2012.
Also advancing was second-seeded Australian Open champion Li Na, who beat Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 6-2, 6-2.
