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French Open 2017: Venus Williams makes light work of Kurumi Nara, Petra Kvitova out

Tom Adams

Updated 31/05/2017 at 19:37 GMT

Venus Williams roared into the third round of the French Open with a 6-3 6-1 demolition of Japan’s Kurumi Nara.

USA's Venus Williams celebrates winning her second round match against Japan's Kurumi Nara

Image credit: Reuters

The world number 11, who reached the final of the Australian Open, looked in dominant form on Philippe-Chatrier as she overwhelmed her opponent.
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French Open highlights: Venus eases past Nara and into third round

Sister Serena's absence from the draw due to her pregnancy means Venus is seeded 10th, and her sibling was watching on from the stands.
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Venus: We all want Serena's baby to be named after us

"I love being here and I love playing on this court," Williams, who is playing her 20th French Open, said afterwards. "You never stop learning and that's what I love about the game."
She also went into an impromptu version of Destiny's Child 'Say my name'.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova's comeback was cut short on Wednesday when she was dumped out of the French Open in a second round straight-sets defeat to doubles world number one Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
The 15th seed, returning this week from a five-month break after she was stabbed in her playing hand by a burglar in December, littered the court with 25 unforced errors as she lost 7-6 7-6.
But Kvitova declared her comeback mission a success despite visibly lacking match practice as Mattek-Sands chased her across the court, switching between baseline and net play.
"I was surprised how I played even though I lost," she told reporters. "I feel good. I did not have as much time to prepare as I wanted. But I feel good and happy that I am back."
"In the coming weeks it will be business as usual, focusing on the tennis and improving my game. I did not have any expectations here. I came here for my comeback. The mission is completed and I am happy.
"Coming to Roland Garros was one of the things to prepare for Wimbledon," Kvitova said. "It's a great tournament for me, I have the best memories I can have."
"I am glad it was not taken away from me to be there one more time. I will enjoy it more than previous years."
It was not a good day for Ekaterina Makarova, conqueror of top seed Angelique Kerber in round one but knocked out 6-2 6-2 by Lesia Tsurenko in round two.
Former US Open champion Sam Stosur did make it through to round two, the 23rd seed beating Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 7-6(8/6).
Caroline Wozniacki continued her good form as the former world number one double-bageled Francoise Abanda 6-0, 6-0.

Results from the French Open Women's Singles Round 2 matches on Wednesday

Catherine Bellis (U.S.) beat 18-Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) 6-3 7-6(5)
11-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Francoise Abanda (Canada) 6-0 6-0
4-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2
Shelby Rogers (U.S.) beat Cagla Buyukakcay (Turkey) 7-6(6) 6-4
27-Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) beat Johanna Larsson (Sweden) 6-3 1-6 6-3
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) beat 15-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
23-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) 6-2 7-6(6)
10-Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Kurumi Nara (Japan) 6-3 6-1
Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) beat Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 6-2 6-2
Elise Mertens (Belgium) beat Richel Hogenkamp (Netherlands) 6-3 6-4
Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) beat Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) 6-3 6-2
32-Zhang Shuai (China) beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) 6-2 4-6 6-3
13-Kristina Mladenovic (France) beat Sara Errani (Italy) 6-2 6-3
30-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) beat Madison Brengle (U.S.) 6-0 6-2
Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) beat 6-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-4 6-3
32-Zhang Shuai (China) beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) 6-2 4-6 6-3
8-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Oceane Dodin (France) 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3
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'Say my name, say my name!' - Venus sings Destiny's Child

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