Serena survives in three sets, Blake falls short at French Open

PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams bemoaned her game on a windy day at the French Open, wasting eight match points before finally beating Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.

Williams was broken twice during the second set Tuesday, including when she was serving for the match at 5-4. At 5-3 with Zakopalova serving, she had five match points but couldn't end it.

"I just played horrendous," said Williams, who is seeded second. "I was a little nervous because I hadn't won a match on clay all year."

Zakopalova saved three more match points before holding to 5-3 in the third set, then broke Williams in the next game to get back on serve.

"I think Serena will be playing better and better each round, so it was the best chance to at least play with her or beat her," Zakopalova said. "She's Serena."

Williams completed her Serena Slam at the French Open in 2002, winning her fourth straight Grand Slam title. If she wins at Roland Garros this year, she'll have won three majors in a row after victories at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. She reached the final at Wimbledon last year, but lost to big sister Venus in the final.

"Now hopefully I'll start playing better," the 10-time Grand Slam champion said.

No. 4 Elena Dementieva, No. 5 Jelena Jankovic and No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced among the women. No. 4 Novak Djokovic, No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro, No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero made it through on the men's side.

Two upsets involved a pair of Americans losing to Argentines. No. 15 James Blake lost to qualifier Leonardo Mayer 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, 6-2, and No. 22 Mardy Fish fell to Maximo Gonzalez 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Jankovic dominated her opponent before a 2-hour rain delay, and then did well enough after it to beat Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3. [Read More]