Venus set to start defence

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Venus takes on Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele on Centre Court as she seeks a third straight triumph at the All England Club and sixth singles crown in total.

The 29-year-old has an amazing record in SW19, winning 58 of her 65 matches since making her debut in 1997. In the last nine years the American has won the title five times and appeared in two other finals - but has failed to repeat such success at the other three grand slams.

Williams has won the US Open twice but has never won the Australian Open or French Open, reaching just one final in Melbourne (2003) and Paris (2002).

She is only the third seed this year behind Serena and world number one Dinara Safina, but such minor details have never been much cause for concern.

"I think Dinara should be the number one seed," Serena insisted after her 6-1 7-5 victory over Portugal's Neuza Silva, a player making her grand slam debut at the age of 26.

"She's been really consistent the last couple months. She's earned that number one ranking."

Safina has indeed been consistent, reaching the final at the year's first two grand slams in Australia and France but falling at the final hurdle both times (losing to Serena in Melbourne and Svetlana Kuznetsova in Paris).

French Open champion Kuznetsova was also scheduled to be in action today, the fifth seed taking on Japan's Akiko Morigami on Court Two, while former world number one Ana Ivanovic - the 13th seed - was up against Lucie Hradecka, of the Czech Republic, on Court Four.

Another former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, was due to face Germany's Julia Goerges on Court Three - with ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, playing Japan's Kimiko Date on Court Two.