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French Open: Venus Williams suffers shock defeat to China’s Wang Qiang

Further upset as defending champion Jelena Ostapenko is defeated in first round

Venus Williams lost her first-round match to Wang Qiang. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

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Sun May 27 2018 - 21:12

Jelena Ostapenko’s reign as French Open champion came crashing to a halt in the first round at Roland Garros.

The Latvian, who was unseeded when she roared through the draw to claim her shock triumph last year, was beaten in straight sets by Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova.

Ostapenko, seeded five, looked a shadow of the player on the Court Philippe Chatrier upon which she shone so brightly 12 months ago.

She contributed 13 double faults amid 48 unforced errors to tumble out 7-5 6-3 to the world number 66.

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Venus Williams was also sent spinning out on the opening Sunday.

The ninth seed, runner-up in Paris in 2002, was beaten 6-4 7-5 by Wang Qiang of China on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Wang, ranked 85, had lost to Williams in the first round in Paris last year and also at Wimbledon a few weeks later.

Gained revenge

But she gained revenge in spectacular style with a first victory over the seven-time grand slam winner for the biggest win of her career.

“I think she just played well.,” said Williams. “I mean, all the times we’ve played, she’s played great. I think her game just got better and better during the match.”

Williams was the first big name to tumble out of this year’s tournament and was soon joined by Great Britain’s Johanna Konta.

The 22nd seed crashed 6-4 6-3 to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, a player ranked 71 places below her.

Fourth seed Elina Svitolina recovered from 5-1 down, saving a set point, to blow away Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia.

The Ukrainian won eight games in a row – frustrated Tomljanovic’s racket was an early Roland Garros casualty – on her way to a 7-5 6-3 victory.

Title defence

US Open champion Sloane Stephens was clearly in a hurry, dropping just two games in a 6-2 6-0 win over Arantxa Rus of Holland.

World number one Rafa Nadal begins his French Open title defence on Monday with a clash against Italy’s Simone Bolelli on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Novak Djokovic, looking to get back to winning ways on the biggest stage following elbow surgery, takes on unseeded Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva. Dominic Thiem, one of the players capable of denying Spaniard Nadal a record-extending 11th title at Roland

Garros, opens his campaign on Court One against Ilya Ivashka of Belarus. Five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova is also in action, with the Russian taking on Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

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