Steady does it for Serena Williams at French Open as she racks up 801st tour-level win
Former champion Serena Williams was back to her best in the second round of the French Open as she brushed aside Kurumi Nara.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner was a little rusty during her first-round victory over Vitalia Diatchenko, but she upped her game on Thursday as she dropped only five, beating the Japanese qualifier 6-3, 6-2.
Williams broke once in the first set and twice in the second to claim a routine win – her 801st main draw match on the WTA Tour – in one hour and seven minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Signed. Sealed. Delivered.@SerenaWilliams defeats Nara in straight sets at #RG19 pic.twitter.com/xKHAwiE6gG
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 30, 2019
She will face her compatriot Sofia Kenin next after her fellow American advanced when Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
Fifteenth seed Belinda Bencic booked her place in the third round as she completed her match against Laura Siegemund, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 while Polish teenager Iga Swiatek secured a 6-3, 6-0 win over 16th seed Wang Qiang.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
Comment: Why the French Open is the best Grand Slam spectacle Tennis has to offer
-
French Open 2019: Tennis365 writers cast their predictions for Roland Garros
-
Five Roland Garros contenders: Rafael Nadal still very much the boss at French Open
-
Five Roland Garros contenders: Kiki Bertens primed to make her breakthrough
-
FEATURE: We look at what makes Rafael Nadal so formidable on clay
-
Latest
-
Tennis NewsJannik Sinner still in the mix for ATP Finals qualification after making progress in Antwerp
Sinner stayed on course for the end-of-season Nitto ATP Finals with a straights-sets win over Rinderknech.
-
Tennis NewsExclusive – Revealing the Mouratoglou coaching methods that took Serena Williams to a new level
What has made Patrick Mouratoglou the go-to guru for the game’s biggest names?
-
Tennis NewsDaniil Medvedev refuses to confirm vaccine status as he backs Novak Djokovic
Medvedev has leapt to the defence of world No.1 Djokovic amid the ongoing debate over Covid vaccinations
-
ATP TourAndy Murray fails to back up epic Antwerp win as he bows out in second round to Diego Schwartzman
The Scot was unable to take advantage of an early lead.
-
NewsWATCH: Emma Raducanu ‘very excited’ about Upper Austria Ladies Linz as she releases new video
The 18-year-old pulled out of this week’s VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
-
Tennis VideosWATCH: Serena Williams and Venus Williams joined by Will Smith as they reveal new King Richard trailer, and song by Beyonce
Grab the popcorn for the new King Richard trailer.
-
WimbledonAndy Murray not a fan of changes to Wimbledon mixed doubles schedule as he suggests further tweaks
Andy Murray believes changes will have a knock on-effect on quality of the field.
-
Tennis NewsFlavia Pennetta on Emma Raducanu winning US Open as a qualifier: ‘In my day it would never have happened’
“In my opinion it is not good for tennis,” says Flavia Pennetta.
-
Tennis NewsCameron Norrie on Emma Raducanu’s ‘utterly incredible’ US Open win: ‘It will inspire the next generation’
“It’s huge for British tennis,” says Cameron Norrie.
-
Australian OpenOfficials at odds over whether or not rules should be tweaked to allow Novak Djokovic to compete at Australian Open
Should rules change to allow Novak Djokovic to compete?