Venus Williams advanced to the third round of the Bausch & Lomb Championships on Wednesday, beating fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Williams has won all nine of her matches against Schnyder.
"I think going to a match for her against an opponent you've never won against, I think that's tough," Williams said. "That probably played a role. She was probably nervous, too. She was hitting some double faults at times when there was no need to."
In the third set, Schnyder gained the upper hand by breaking Williams for a 3-1 lead. But Williams responded by breaking the Swiss player at love in the following game and then holding serve for 3-3.
Schnyder's two double faults in the seventh game were followed by a backhand into the net and a shot that sailed over the baseline as Williams let out an emphatic "yes" on the service break.
"It was one of those days where I felt I was just a little bit off, and against a player like Patty, you need that extra bit," Williams said. "I felt I was sometimes hitting in the open court too much and that some of the balls were floaters. That's why I went more to a serve and volley attack in the third set."
Williams will face Meilen Tu in the third round.
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