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Nadal, Djokovic and Serena Williams all advance on day 2 of French Open

Defending champion Rafael Nadal, and top seed Novak Djokovic both strolled into the second round ...
Neil Treacy
Neil Treacy

18.55 27 May 2019


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Nadal, Djokovic and Serena Wil...

Nadal, Djokovic and Serena Williams all advance on day 2 of French Open

Neil Treacy
Neil Treacy

18.55 27 May 2019


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Petra Kvitova has been forced to withdraw from the tournament

Defending champion Rafael Nadal, and top seed Novak Djokovic both strolled into the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros, while Serena Williams survived a scare to advance in the women's draw.

The 'King of Clay' Nadal beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-1 6-3, as he bids for a 12th slam on the clay. He'll face another German opponent named Yannick in round two, world number 114 Yannick Maden.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, whose only win at the French Open came in 2016, needed just 96 minutes to see off Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-2 6-2.

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The World number one - who would hold all four slams should he win in Paris - will face world number 104 Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland next up.

In the women's draw, Serena Williams had to come from a set behind to keep her hopes of a 24th Grand Slam title alive.

The three-time French open winner dropped her first set against Russia's Vitalia Diatchenko, but went on to win 2-6 6-1 6-0.

Fourth seed Kiki Bertens enjoyed a comfortable afternoon on the Suzanne-Lenglen court. The Dutch star saw off home favourite Pauline Parmentier 6-3 6-4, continuing her promising form on clay.

The world number 4 has more clay court wins than any other player over the last six years.

There was disappointment for former world number 1 Carloine Wozniacki, the 13th seed was beaten in 3-sets today by Veronika Kudermetova.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

The sixth seed said an arm injury has ruled her out until the grass court season.

"I'm so disappointed to have to announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros.

"I've had pain in my left forearm for a few weeks and last night an MRI confirmed a grade two tear which could unfortunatelyvget a lot worse if I play today.

"They said for now two to three weeks off, which means no tennis, of course, because it's my left forearm. I'm gonna do some fitness and everything what I can do and to kind of prepare my body for the tennis on the grass then."


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French Open Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Serena Williams

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