Serena Williams into Wimbledon third round

Serena Williams, of the U.S, returns the ball to Russia’s Maria Sharapova during the Women’s final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Saturday, June 8, 2013 in Paris. AP FILE PHOTO

LONDON — Defending champion Serena Williams eased past French teenager Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon third round on Thursday.

Williams will face 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm, the oldest woman in the last 32 in the Open era, for a place in the fourth round.