Serena shoots from the hip on and off court

Tennis/Wimbledon 2004: Big sister looks after little sister. Little sister looks after big sister. As Venus Williams rides off to into the Bad Lands after a first week exit at Wimbledon, younger sis Serena arrived yesterday, a gunslinger shooting from the hip.

After the lightest of encouragement, Serena inferred, in her own inimitable way that Croatian teenager Karolina Sprem cheated in Thursday's controversial match against Venus.

Sprem, who was given an extra point in the second set tie-break when umpire Ted Watts incorrectly called the score, subsequently defeated the 2001 champion in two sets.

Since then Watts has been removed from the tournament.

In a statement released yesterday, championship referee Alan Mills said: "I have now discussed the incident with the chair umpire concerned and we have agreed it will be in the best interests of both parties if he takes no further part in the event."

Venus accepted the error with dignity. Serena was less forgiving.

"I think as a competitor and as a professional, you should be able to distinguish right and wrong," she said after yesterday's two-set victory, 6-0, 6-4, over France's Stephanie Foretz.

"No, I've never been in a situation like that before. But you know I'm an honest individual. So if I were in that situation, I know I would make the right choice."

Further riled by a comment by Martina Navratilova that the defeat of Venus Williams indicates that there is strength and depth in women's tennis, Serena was withering.

"I'm unaware that Venus was beaten," she said, the implication being that her sister's woes were entirely down to the scoring mess. Possibly realising that she wasn't as restrained as she should have, she holstered her tongue.

"I'm sorry," she continued. "I can't answer any more questions about that subject. If you have any other questions to ask me, please, but don't ask me any more about the match or else you'll hear 'bleep, bleep'."

To spare the sensitivities of those watching on television, swear words are "bleeped" out of interviews.

Apart from highlighting the talent of Sprem, another positive aspect of th Venus defeat is that the competition will be spared another sisterly clash, which has traditionally been just slightly more exciting than Wednesday's washout.

But Serena's comments livened up a day where the only other sound was of the second seed, Anastasia Myskina, falling to American Amy Frazier.

Truth is, not many really got excited about Myskina's tumble, despite the fact that she arrived in London as the French Open champion.

Her high seeding was perplexing given that her game is entirely back court, although she is a clever player.

Frazier, seeded 31, took three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to beat the Russian to bring to five the number of former grand slam champions who have been ousted. Williams, Navratilova, Conchita Martinez, Mary Pierce, and now Myskina are out.

For Jennifer Capriati a quiet life in the first week of a grand slam has always been an aim. Her progress yesterday into the third round was only slightly delayed but you can't beat one of the few remaining British players on centre court without the clash of symbols and the beat of drums.

The American seventh seed's opponent Elena Baltacha is routinely fawned over in Britain. The "plucky underdog" with the polyglot accent (born Kiev, grew up in Scotland and lives in Middlesex) routinely guarantees tears or joy, while her health problems over the last two years has ensured a softer focus than ever.

Her career has been decimated with illness and injury since she sprinted to the third round here two years ago and drew the type of hyperbolic headline that usually secures a crash-and-burn career.

Two bouts of tonsillitis and a liver problem then forced her out of the game for six months at the end of last year. The liver condition still requires constant attention, requiring twice yearly checks and a few days' rest after every third tournament. She will receive soft criticism today, Capriati beating her 6-4, 6-4 despite a feisty effort and some heavy serving.

In the final of the day's scheduled matches on centre court, 13th seed Maria Sharapova from Russia secured a safe passage into round three with a straight-forward 6-3 6-1 win over Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.

The teenager - who won in Birmingham during the build-up to Wimbledon - never looked in any trouble.