Join us for updates throughout the day as singles third-round action kicks off at Roland-Garros
© Cédric Lecocq/FFTSerena Williams rallied back from 1-4 down in the second set on her way to an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory over fellow American Danielle Collins to reach the fourth round at Roland-Garros on Friday.
The seventh-seeded Williams is back in the second week in Paris for the first time since 2018 and will face off with Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the No.21 seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
The 39-year-old Williams hit 22 winners against 20 unforced errors in a strong performance against Collins, who was a quarter-finalist here last year.
Williams, a three-time Roland-Garros champion, who is seeking a record-extending 24th major, was asked by Marion Bartoli during her on-court interview about what it means to her to provide boundless inspiration for people around the world.
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"I really don't think about it too much because I'm still playing, but I feel good to hopefully be an inspiration and continue to be an inspiration. It's fun, I just really enjoy my time here and I enjoy playing in front of this crowd and in general I always try to have fun," said Williams, who did a little dance on court when Bartoli listed some of her unprecedented accomplishments.
Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev wasted no time against American No.32 seed Reilly Opelka, posting a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 result in just one hour and 38 minutes to reach the last-16 stage on Parisian clay for the first time.
Medvedev was 0-4 at Roland-Garros prior to this fortnight and will now tackle Chilean No.22 seed Cristian Garin, who beat American Marcos Giron in four sets.
The Russian fired 28 winners, including 10 aces, and dropped serve just once against the towering Opelka.
No.33 seed Paula Badosa had won her last seven matches on tour without dropping a set, but on Friday she went down 6-2 in the first to Romania's Ana Bogdan, who dominated with strong serving. Badosa then faced match point in the second before taking the tiebreak and nudging past the Romanian in the third to take the match 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.
The win sees the Spaniard through to the fourth round at Roland-Garros for the second consecutive year, where she faces No.20 seed Marketa Vondrousova.
© Philippe Montigny/FFTThe Czech lefty was an unseeded finalist at Roland-Garros two years ago and lost in the first round to eventual champion Iga Swiatek upon her return to Paris last September.
She booked her place in the round of 16 to face Badosa with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovenian Polona Hercog.
"Badosa is playing great on clay, especially this year, so it's gonna be tough," Vondrousova said in her post-match press conference.
In their first meeting at a Grand Slam, No.12 seed Pablo Carreno Busta was looking to book a last-16 place at Roland-Garros for the third time when he came up against Steve Johnson.
The American world No.88 was seeking his first fourth-round appearance in Paris, but it wasn't to be. Despite strong returning from Johnson, Carreno Busta eased through 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
"I suffered a little bit at the end of the second set, but, well, the feeling on court was very good," admitted Carreno Busta, a quarter-finalist in the French capital last year. "I feel very comfortable. Well, very happy to be again in the fourth round."
© Philippe Montigny/FFT
ROLAND-GARROS
20 May - 9 June 2024
