{"id":69314,"date":"2021-06-03T21:17:07","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T21:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69314"},"modified":"2021-06-03T21:17:07","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T21:17:07","slug":"serena-survives-scare-as-tsitsipas-medvedev-also-make-french-open-last-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69314","title":{"rendered":"Serena survives scare as Tsitsipas, Medvedev also make French Open last 32"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> Serena Williams survived a French Open scare to extend her latest bid for an elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title with a three-set victory over Mihaela Buzarnescu on Wednesday, while men's fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and world number two Daniil Medvedev also reached the third round.<\/p>\n

The 39-year-old Williams, who has been one short of Margaret Court's all-time record of most major trophies since 2017, brushed off a second-set blip to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.<\/p>\n

The American, seeded seventh, will play compatriot Danielle Collins for a last-16 berth as she looks for a fourth French Open crown, but first since 2015.<\/p>\n

“It was good competition, she was playing well and I was playing well,” said the former world number one, who has withdrawn injured mid-tournament on two of her last three visits to Roland Garros.<\/p>\n

Williams has already seen two of her likeliest title rivals either fail to start the tournament or pull out in unprecedented circumstances.<\/p>\n

World number three Simona Halep, who defeated Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final, withdrew before the event with injury.<\/p>\n

The biggest story of the week so far has been world number two Naomi Osaka's shock withdrawal after a press boycott, saying she has been suffering with “bouts of depression” since her breakthrough triumph over Williams in the controversial 2018 US Open showpiece match.<\/p>\n

Williams started well on Wednesday with a comfortable opening set, but paid for missing seven of eight break points in the second as world number 174 Buzarnescu forced a decider.<\/p>\n

But she double-faulted on break point in the first game of the third set and Williams cruised to the finish line.<\/p>\n

– Tsitsipas lays down early marker –<\/p>\n

Tsitsipas, regarded as the favourite to reach the final from his half of the draw, put in a strong display to dispose of Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.<\/p>\n

The Greek, who lost an epic semi-final to Novak Djokovic last year, next faces big-serving American John Isner.<\/p>\n

“We're here at a Grand Slam and it's a big opportunity… But of course it's going to be a challenge,” said the 22-year-old Tsitsipas, who has never reached a major final.<\/p>\n

He has won his last three meetings with Isner.<\/p>\n

Medvedev bounced back from losing the first set to American Tommy Paul in style by romping to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory.<\/p>\n

The Russian, who had never got past the first round in four previous appearances, will eye a fourth-round spot against US 32nd seed Reilly Opelka.<\/p>\n

After a sloppy opening set, the two-time Grand Slam runner-up was far too strong for Paul, breaking his 52-ranked opponent eight times.<\/p>\n

Sixth seed Alexander Zverev was in scratchy form but did enough to see off Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets.<\/p>\n

The German, last year's US Open runner-up, will take on Serbia's Laslo Djere in the third round after a 7-6 (7\/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7\/1) victory.<\/p>\n

Zverev had needed to fight back from two sets down in his opening match against qualifier Oscar Otte.<\/p>\n

“I'm happy to be through in three sets,” he said. “I'm happy not to have played another five-setter. I think it's going to be important for me during the course of this tournament.”<\/p>\n

Norwegian youngster Casper Ruud continued his excellent year by easing past Poland's Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while three-time quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan edged out Russian 23rd seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Chatrier.<\/p>\n

– Bencic knocked out by Kasatkina –<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the women's draw, third seed Aryna Sabalenka beat fellow Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-3 and will next play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.<\/p>\n

“I would say wasn't great level from me today, but I'm really proud of myself that I was fighting no matter what,” said Madrid Open winner Sabalenka.<\/p>\n

Swiss 10th seed Belinda Bencic failed to improve her poor French Open record as she lost 6-2, 6-2 to Russia's Daria Kasatkina.<\/p>\n

Bencic has still never made the fourth round in five appearances.<\/p>\n

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka set up a third-round tie against Madison Keys with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Denmark's Clara Tauson.<\/p>\n

The Belarusian's best Roland Garros run was a semi-final appearance eight years ago and this is the first time she has made round three since 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: Serena Williams survived a French Open scare to extend her latest bid for an elusive 24th Grand Slam singles title with a three-set victory over Mihaela Buzarnescu on Wednesday, while men’s fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and world number two Daniil Medvedev also reached the third round. The 39-year-old Williams, who has been one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":69315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n