Venus and Serena Progress in London

Venus Williams began her bid for a record fourth gold medal in Olympic tennis Monday by beating Sara Errani of Italy, 6-3, 6-1.

It was an impressive showing from Williams, who is unseeded and drew a tough first-round foe. Errani has won four titles this year, was the runner-up at the French Open and is ranked a career-high No. 9.

But Williams was in fine form on the Wimbledon grass, where she has won five of her seven Grand Slam titles.

Despite being diagnosed last year with an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue, Williams began 2012 determined to make the Olympics for the fourth time.

She won the gold medal in singles at the 2000 Games and teamed with sister Serena to take the gold in doubles in 2000 and 2008.

Serena beat Urszula Radwanska of Poland, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.

Serena defeated Radwanska's sister, Agnieszka, in the Wimbledon final this year.

American Varvara Lepchenko eliminated Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-2. Their match was tied after two sets when suspended Sunday because of rain.

Captain Kate Hopes to Keep Playing

Great Britain captain Kate Walsh has had surgery to insert a plate in a fractured jaw but her participation in the Olympics has not been ruled out.

The 32-year-old had surgery this morning but the medical advice is that it should not preclude her from playing, Team GB have confirmed.

A decision on whether she can or not will be taken when it can be assessed how well she has recovered from the operation.

Walsh was hit in the face by a stick late on in last night's 4-0 win over Japan in their opening match.

"Team GB women's hockey captain Kate Walsh has this morning (Monday) received treatment in hospital for a fractured mandible (jaw) which she sustained in the closing stages of Great Britain's 4-0 victory over Japan on Sunday evening," read a BOA statement.

"Walsh was accidentally hit on the left side of her jaw by a stick while making a tackle four minutes from the end of the match at the Riverbank Arena.

"Walsh left the field of play and was immediately taken to hospital for assessment. This morning she successfully underwent a surgical operation to stabilise the fracture with a plate. Her recovery from the operation will be monitored and her ongoing participation in the Olympic Games will be reviewed following her return to the athletes' village.

"The injury itself is not expected to prevent Walsh from playing hockey. Her continued participation is dependent on her recovery from the surgery and this will be assessed on an ongoing basis over the coming days. She is in good spirits and wishes to thank the hospital staff who have cared for her and all of those who have wished her well via social media."

Exhausted Evans Out of Time

Bradley Wiggins' chances of winning a fourth Olympic gold medal were handed a boost on Sunday, when former Tour de France champion Cadel Evans pulled out of Wednesday's time trial.

Evans has been withdrawn from the Games time trial due to fatigue, the Australian Olympic Committee announced.

The 2011 Tour de France champion finished 80th in the 250-kilometre Olympic road race on day one, but after a gruelling season will now not take to the start line for the 44km race against the clock.

A statement read: 'Cadel Evans will not compete in the men's individual time-trial event.

'He has been seen by the cycling doctor Dr Mark Fisher and Olympic team medical director, Dr Peter Baquie, and they have confirmed he is fatigued and will not recover in time for Wednesday.

'Cycling has advised he will not be replaced with another athlete in that event.

'Michael Rogers will be the only Australian athlete to compete in the men's individual time-trial.'

Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara, the defending champion, crashed during the road race and rated his chances at 50-50 for the event, which Tour winner Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain will begin as favourite

London 2012 - Picture of the Day

Alex Danson - GB Hockey

Stoner Stuns Lorenzo at Laguna Seca

Defending MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner won the United States round of the series at Laguna Seca after hunting down title rival Jorge Lorenzo.

The Repsol Honda rider stalked former champion Lorenzo for two thirds of the 32-lap race at the Californian circuit before passing the Spaniard over the finish line.

Australian Stoner, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, put his victory down to his race strategy.

Stoner told the BBC: 'I wanted to get to the front immediately and see if I could pull a gap.

'I didn't want to risk it and pass him somewhere I was not comfortable.'

Lorenzo admitted he had been second best to his rival.

'I made a mistake and I almost crashed,' Lorenzo said. 'I could not keep the pace that I did in the beginning.'

With Stoner taking the win, he closed the gap in the points standings to 32 between himself in third and Lorenzo.

Third in the race was Stoner's team-mate Dani Pedrosa, which left him second in the standings - 23 points behind his countryman.

Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies had looked set for fourth place on a weekend he announced he would be leaving Yamaha next term.

But Spies was thrown from his Yamaha in the downhill Corkscrew corner and was lucky to escape serious injury in his home race.

That left Italian Andrea Dovizioso to claim fourth ahead of his British team-mate Cal Crutchlow as the Monster Tech 3 Yamahas battled all race long.

American Nicky Hayden celebrated signing a new contract with Ducati by taking sixth place ahead of Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda), Alvaro Bautista (San Carlo Honda), Aleix Espargaro (Aspar) and Karel Abraham (Cardion Ducati).

Multiple world champion Valentino Rossi had a high-speed crash at the entry to the Corkscrew but walked away without serious injury.