Keys, Buzarnescu book Round 3 spots at Wimbledon

LONDON, Great Britain - No.10 seed Madison Keys edged past a tough challenge from Luksika Kumkhum in straight sets to make her way into the third round at Wimbledon.

Coming into the matchup trailing the Thai player 0-2 in the pair’s head-to-head record, Keys earned a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 win after an hour and 18 minutes on court.

“I feel like it was obviously a tough match,” Keys said. “I think she played really well the entire time. There was obviously some moments where I don't think I served perfectly or anything like that, but I think I handled myself really well and handled a really tricky opponent well today.”

The American blasted 34 winners past Kumkhum and six aces, and her aggressive approach gave her plenty of opportunities to break the Thai’s serve, converting three times on nine chances. Kumkhum did her best to hang with the former quarterfinalist, but she was only able to break the American’s powerful serve once from five chances.

Read more: Keys battled 'nerves' in Tomljanovic win at Wimbledon

This is Keys’ first tournament working with new coach David Taylor, and back-to-back straight sets wins are a good sign for things go come.

“He's really been great at helping me figure out my game, and the biggest thing is committing to being aggressive,” Keys said of the new partnership after her 6-4, 6-2 win over Ajla Tomljanovic last round. “That doesn't mean just going for everything but just reminding me that my safety is in racquet head speed and committing and trusting my shots.

“That's been really great, especially on grass, that it's kind of amplified. So far I have really enjoyed our time together… I think it's a little bit more of a holistic approach, just because there is a lot of things that could be weapons for me that I maybe don't use all the time.”

Up next, Keys will take on the Evgeniya Rodina, who came back from a set down to knock out  Sorana Cirstea, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Also through to the third round, Donna Vekic battled past Rebecca Peterson to win 7-5, 6-4. Up next she’ll play Yanina Wickmayer, who moved past Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-3. No.13 seed Julia Goerges and Italy’s Camila Giorgi are also through - Goerges fought past Vera Lapko 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and Giorgi took down Madison Brengle in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

British wildcard Katie Swan’s run at Wimbledon ended at the hands of Mihaela Buzarnescu, who eased past her 6-0, 6-3. She books a date with No.7 seed Karolina Pliskova, who’s through to the Wimbledon third round for the first time.