SWilliams hits 23 aces, edges Zheng at Wimbledon
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Serena Williams of the United States reacts to a point against Zheng Jie of China during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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Zheng Jie of China reacts during a third round women's singles match against Serena Williams of the United States at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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Serena Williams of the United States gets up after playing a return to Zheng Jie of China during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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Francesca Schiavone of Italy reacts during a third round women's singles match against Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Francesca Schiavone of Italy returns a shot to Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Francesca Schiavone of Italy during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic serves to Varvara Lepchenko of the United States during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Varvara Lepchenko of the United States serves to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Serena Williams of the United States plays a return to Zheng Jie of China during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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Zheng Jie of China reacts after winning the first set against Serena Williams of the United States during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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Brian Baker of the United States returns a shot to Benoit Pare of France during a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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Serena Williams of the United States serves to Zheng Jie of China during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams hit 23 aces, held every service game and barely escaped an upset bid by Zheng Jie, winning 6-7 (5), 6-2, 9-7 Saturday in the third round at Wimbledon.
Williams, who erased all six break points she faced, served three times to stay in the match and held each time at love. She was pushed to deuce serving in the final game but closed out the victory with a volley winner, then hopped in glee on the Centre Court grass.
The scrappy, 5-foot-4½ Zheng played with little flash but plenty of consistency, committing only 17 unforced errors.
Williams rocketed a return to break for an 8-7 lead in the final set, then showed how much she wanted to win, throwing back her head and letting out a long scream.
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