ROLAND GARROS, FRANCE

[1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [26] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

This was a tougher match than Williams and her team anticipated; however, Mladenovic and her team were not surprised by her performance.  They have watched her game mature over the years and she is well-recognized for her excellence on the doubles tour. Mladenovic has won the Australian and Wimbledon titles in mixed doubles with Daniel Nestor and has been a doubles finalist at Wimbledon with Timea Babos.  Thus, she is quite comfortable with being in the spotlight and under pressure.  Williams had to work really hard to win this match; I am still trying to understand why. Williams served at 59% and surprisingly she did not serve many aces. Her break point conversion in the match may be the reason this match almost went the distance, she was 1/12.  Williams won 6-4, 7-6(10) and she plays Elina Svitolina in the round of sixteen.  Williams leads their head-to-head 3-0 but Svitolina took a set from her in the 2015 Australian Open.

TODAY’S FALLEN SEEDS

[6] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)** was forced to retire despite leading [80] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 5-2(RET)

[26] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) lost to [1] Serena Williams (USA) 4-6, 6-7(10)

[14] Ana Ivanovic  (SRB) lost to [18] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4-6, 4-6

[12] David Ferrer (ESP) defeated fellow countryman [21] Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-1

[7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) defeated [25] Pablo Cuevas (URU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

[12] Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated [22] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

[29] Daria Kasatkina (RUS) lost to [58] Kiki Bertens (NED) 2-6, 6-3, 8-10

**Left thigh injury caused Tsonga to retire, the same thigh which caused him to withdraw from Rome earlier this month.

SPECIAL MENTION: [41] Alexander Zverev (GER) lost to [13] Dominic Thiem (AUT) 7-6(4), 3-6, 3-6, 3-6.  Zverev has lost all three encounters.

HOW AMERICANS FARED ON DAY 7

[9] Venus Williams defeated [50] Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-0

Butorac/Lipsky lost to [9] Kubot (POL)/Peya (AUT) 7-5, 2-6, 6-7(4)

[7] Sock (USA)/Pospisil (CAN) lost to the French team of Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin 7-6(3), 4-6, 5-7

[15] Madison Keys defeated [53] Monica Puig (PUR) 7-6(3), 6-3