Top seed Safina sweeps into last 16

LONDON (Reuters) - World number one Dinara Safina sailed into the second week at Wimbledon for the first time on Saturday, defeating Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 7-5 6-1.

The Russian, three times a grand slam runner-up but never a winner, had a fight on her hands in the opening set of the third round match but overwhelmed the world number 110 in the second.

With thunder rumbling overhead, Flipkens got her only set point at 5-4 in the first which she squandered. Safina finally broke in the 11th game and served out to take a 1-0 lead.

The Russian went into overdrive as the heavens threatened to open on the new number two show court but the rain just held off and she swept to an easy 6-1 second set clincher.

Safina next faces 17th seed and former champion Amelie Mauresmo of France for a place in the quarter-finals.

(Reporting by Paul Majendie; Editing by Ken Ferris)