With her left leg all taped up, Venus Williams wins easily to reach 3rd round at US Open

Venus Williams moves into 3rd round at US Open

NEW YORK — Even with her left leg all taped up, Venus Williams has advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open in straight sets.

The 2000-01 Open champion beat 124th-ranked Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States 6-4, 6-2 Wednesday.

It was a far easier match than Williams had in the first round, when she stopped after three games to have a trainer place a wrap below her left knee, then needed three sets to get through.

Against Mattek-Sands, the No. 3-seeded Williams stepped out on court wearing heavy bandaging above and below that knee. It was similar to the tape job the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion wore at Wimbledon, where she reached the final before losing to her younger sister Serena.