French Open Day 4: Venus Williams through to third round while Tsonga crashes out

Venus Williams celebrates after beating Kurumi Nara at the RFrench Open on May 31, 2017 in Paris. Eric Feferberg / AFP

The latest

French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga crashed out of the first round at Roland Garros, going down to Argentina’s Renzo Olivo in four sets after just one game played Wednesday.

World No 91 Olivo was one game away from victory when their match was halted due to darkness on Tuesday, but he broke the 12th seed immediately when play resumed to advance 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.

The 25-year-old is making his Roland Garros main draw debut and will meet Britain’s Kyle Edmund for a place in the last 32.

• Petra Kvitova’s French Open comeback ended in the second round on Wednesday as she was knocked out in straight sets by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The two-time Wimbledon champion was appearing in her first tournament since a horrifying knife attack at her home in the Czech Republic in December but lost 7-6, 7-6.

Mattek-Sands, the world number 117, will face 2010 Roland Garros finalist Sam Stosur of Australia for a place in the last 16.

* Agence France-Presse

From earlier

• Venus Williams got off to a sluggish start but quickly found her range to beat Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 6-1 and reach the third round of the French Open.

The 10th-seeded Williams, a runner-up in Paris in 2002, trailed 3-1 in the opening set but then won seven consecutive games.

Williams is playing at Roland Garros for the 20th time, a record in the Open era.

“I love being here and I love playing on this court,” Williams said. “You never stop learning and that’s what I love about the game.”

• Her sister, Serena Williams, is at the French Open, after all – but as a spectator, not a competitor.

The owner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles is not playing for the rest of this season because she is pregnant.

Williams found a seat in the shade at Court Philippe Chatrier during her older sister Venus’ second-round match against Kurumi Nara on Wednesday.

Serena Williams’ baby is due in the fall. She has said she will return to the tour in 2018.

• The first Wednesday at Roland Garros is traditionally known as kids’ day. Parisian boys and girls will get the chance to see some of the game biggest stars this year, with Rafael Nadal later scheduled to resume his quest for a 10th title in Paris against Robin Haase.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is also on the bill, facing Joao Sousa on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The locals will also keep a close eye on 13th-seeded Kristina Mladenovic, a Frenchwoman who dealt with back pain and deficits before winning in the first round. She next takes on 2012 runner-up Sara Errani.

* Associated Press

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