by Dave James
London - Defending champion Venus Williams successfully launched her bid for a fifth Wimbledon title on Tuesday as a sun-kissed All England Club waited to greet fellow superstars Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova.
Williams recovered from 1-3 down in the first set to see off Britain's Naomi Cavaday 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 and will meet another Briton, Anne Keothavong, for a place in the last 32.
The 28-year-old American blamed a Centre Court bee for her sluggish start.
"I was about to serve. I felt something on my leg. It was a bee, a big old bumblebee," said Williams.
"I didn't want it to sting me. Then I ended up losing that service game, so I guess the bumblebee got me off to a bad start."
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Japan's Ai Sugiyama celebrated her record 57th consecutive appearance at a Grand Slam with a first round 6-4, 6-2 win over Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.
Sugiyama, 32, who now plays Flavia Pennetta, the Italian 22nd seed, took sole possession of the longest Grand Slam appearance streak for a man or woman, pulling clear of the previous holder, South Africa's Wayne Ferreira.
Fittingly Sugiyama took the record here at Wimbledon, where she is now playing for the 16th year in a row.
"I never thought that I would beat the record when I started out so many years ago," Sugiyama told AFP.
"I'm not sure how long I can carry on but the secret is in the motivation."
Fellow Asian favourite Sania Mirza of India, the 32nd seed, playing only her fourth match since March, needed treatment on a shoulder injury but still was too good for Colombia's Catalina Castano 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-4.
The 21-year-old now plays Spanish qualifier Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez next knowing a win would give take her to the third round for the first time.
"It's always good to get through a match like that when you are coming back from injury," said Mirza.
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