French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova eases into 3rd round at Wimbledon

Kuznetsova eases into 3rd round at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has reached the third round at Wimbledon, defeating Pauline Parmentier of France 6-1, 6-3 in less than an hour.

The fifth-seeded Russian worked Parmentier briskly around the court Thursday and never faced a break point before wrapping up the win in 59 minutes.

Kuznetsova broke twice in each set, including the final game. She sealed the win when Parmentier sent a forehand long.

Kuznetsova, who turns 24 on Saturday, will play Germany’s Sabine Lisicki or Patricia Mayr of Austria in the third round.

Kuznetsova is trying to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to win two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments in the same year.