Hingis Exits, Serena Humbles at Wimbledon

"I said I wouldn't come back 'til I am super percent healthy but it gets tiring watching others," said Hingis who is suffering from a hip injury. "I had to miss the French Open and I didn't want to miss Wimbledon. It wasn't the smartest thing but I gave myself a chance. The US Open is a long way ahead and hopefully by then I will be able to do what I want to do."

Top-seeded Justine Henin easily handled Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3, but Russian No. 8 seed Anna Chakvetadze was not so fortunate, collapsing in a tear-filled 6-2 third set under the pressure of big-serving No. 31-seeded opponent Michaella Krajicek.

Serena Williams blew by Milagros Sequera 6-1, 6-0, and humbly let the media know she didn't play even near the top of her game.

"I am at about a 6 or a 7 today," Williams said of her 1-10 scale. "I'm peaking at the right times and playing the big points well. I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling really positive. I'm feeling like I'm going to get there."

No. 3-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic battled against No. 25 Lucie Safarova, escaping with a 6-2 in the third victory.

"At some point I was thinking, 'My God, is there any way out?'" Jankovic said. "My opponent played really well. She had nothing to lose so she was just swinging at the ball and making some unbelievable shots. But I was fighting. I was staying strong and that was the difference. Even though I was not on the top of my game, I still found a way, and I'm happy."

Other winners Friday were (10) Daniela Hantuchova (d. (19) Srebotnik, next facing Serena), (15) Patty Schnyder (d. (24) A.Bondarenko 8-6 in the third), and (18) Marion Bartoli (d. (16) Peer).

Saturday's highlights are (28) Mara Santangelo vs. (4) Amelie Mauresmo, (26) Ai Sugiyama vs. (2) Maria Sharapova, Akiko Morigami vs. (23) Venus Williams, (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Agnieszka Radwanska, Tamira Paszek vs. (12) Elena Dementieva, Virginia Ruano Pascual vs. (11) Nadia Petrova, and (14) Nicole Vaidisova vs. Victoria Azarenka.