Venus Williams ambled onto sun-splashed Court 1 at Wimbledon yesterday, a slight hitch in her step and an odd-looking wrap around her left knee. White tape here, brown tape there.

Good thing the five-time Wimbledon champion didn't need to run to hit serves, huh? Powered in part by her big-as-can-be deliveries, Williams overwhelmed 73rd-ranked Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2, in the second round to stretch her All England Club winning streaks to 16 matches and 27 sets.

Afterward, Williams was coy about the bandaging, saying it was "just for support."

"I really hate tape — like, hate. But I just needed it this time. I accepted that, and I realize that this is Wimbledon. So since it was Wimbledon, I taped," said the American, trying to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1991-93 to win three consecutive titles at the All England Club.

Asked why she needed help for this match after not wearing anything on that leg in the first round Tuesday, Williams said: "Well, what happened was, I needed some support, and then I went and got the support, and then I wore it in the match. ... I mean, I think all the players might start wearing it, because it's so supportive."

None of the top women were tested on Day 4. Like Williams, No. 1 Dinara Safina and past major champions Svetlana Kuznetsova, Amelie Mauresmo and Ana Ivanovic all won in straight sets.

Two young American qualifiers both made the third round: 17-year-old Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Ga., and 21-year-old Jesse Levine of Boca Raton, Fla.

American Andy Roddick, twice a Wimbledon runner-up, got to the third round with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over Igor Kunitsyn of Russia. Playing on the grass that gives solid serves extra verve, Roddick, one of three U.S. men left, hit 18 aces and faced break points in only one game.

AUTO RACING

SUSPENDED MAYFIELD DENIES TAKING DRUGS

Jeremy Mayfield denied yesterday ever taking methamphetamines, doesn't know how he failed a random drug test and said his indefinite suspension from NASCAR has ruined his driving career.

Mayfield's denial comes in an affidavit that was among several hundred pages of documents filed by his attorneys in U.S. District Court. He's been suspended since May 9 for failing a random drug test conducted eight days earlier at Richmond International Raceway.

"I have never taken methamphetamines in my life, and when accused of taking them I immediately volunteered to give another sample," Mayfield said in the affidavit, which also says his offer of a second sample was denied.

NASCAR has refused to reveal what drug Mayfield was caught using, classifying it only as a "a dangerous, illegal, banned substance."

HOCKEY

ISLANDERS MAY DRAFT TAVARES NO. 1 TODAY

John Tavares has waited for this moment nearly all his life even though he is only 18 years old.

Tavares could very well be the top pick at the NHL draft tonight in Montreal. The New York Islanders have the first selection.

"I've worked very hard to get where I am," said Tavares, who turns 19 on Sept. 20. "I've really changed a lot of things that I needed to to get myself to the next level and it's always been my dream to play in the National Hockey League so (today) is one step towards that."

TRACK AND FIELD

GAY RUNS A 9.75 100 AT U.S. MEET

It took Tyson Gay only 9.75 seconds to prove that, yes, he's healthy, and leave the rest of the world wondering what he might do next.

With a helping wind at his back, America's best-known sprinter ran the 100 in the seventh-fastest time under any conditions yesterday, then exited stage right, not to be seen again at the U.S. championships at Eugene, Ore.

About a half hour after he ran, Gay's coaches confirmed he wouldn't be racing again this week.

"But I want to," Gay said. "Because I ran a horrible race."

Already qualified for this summer's world championships in Berlin, Gay used this single race at nationals as a tuneup. Because of the wind, the 9.75 won't go down as the new American record, even though this was .02 seconds faster than the mark he set last year on the same track.

Gay beat Monzavous Edwards by .23 seconds and Leroy Dixon by .25 seconds.