Serena in third round

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

Defending champion Serena Williams recovered from a poor start to defeat Simona Halep 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 yesterday and moved into the third round of Wimbledon, staying on course for a fifth title.

After dropping the first set, Williams regained her renowned intensity and powerful shot-making to dominate the rest of the way on Court 2. The winner of 13 Grand-Slam singles titles is still searching for her form after a yearlong absence because of injuries and health issues.

There were no tears this time from Williams, who sobbed with relief Monday after winning her opening match on Centre Court against Aravane Rezai.

"I'm just happy to be playing and hopefully I'll get better as the tournament goes on,'' Williams said. "It was a little windy out there and I just was a little tight, so I just got to relax and enjoy myself more.''

It was the fourth consecutive three-setter Williams has played since returning last week at the Eastbourne grass-court tournament. She had been out for nearly a year after two foot operations and blood clots in her lungs.

third round

In men's play, second-seeded Novak Djokovic swept into the third round by defeating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Court 1. The Serb has won his opening two rounds in straight sets after his 43-match winning streak was ended by Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals.

"On the important moments, I served well, I played well and I returned really, really well today,'' said Djokovic, who has twice reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and will take over the No. 1 ranking if he makes the final this year. "In the first week, you have to stay focused. You're playing lower-ranked players with nothing to lose. It's just great to win two straight-set matches.''

In a dramatic five-setter that lasted nearly four hours, No. 5 Robin Soderling rallied to overcome 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-7 (5), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 under the Centre Court roof.

The two-time French Open finalist broke Hewitt at love in the final game and dropped to his knees in exhilaration after the Australian slapped a forehand into the net on match point.

A day after throwing his shoes in frustration, 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro won 18 of 23 games yesterday to reach the third round with a 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 win over Olivier Rochus. At 6-foot-6 (1.98 metres), Del Potro stood about a foot taller than his Belgian opponent.

Also advancing were sixth-seeded Francesca Schiavone, who downed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-5, 6-3; No. 12 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-0, 6-2; and 18th-seeded and former No. 1-ranked Ana Ivanovic, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Eleni Daniilidou.