With a sore achilles tendon and amid unusually slow conditions, Serena Williams looks like an upset waiting to happen at this year’s French Open. Yet after a wobbly start on Monday, she was safely through to the second round — joining Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. ‘They are all strung the same,’ said Williams of her rackets as she set out on her latest quest to win a 24th Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal made his entrance with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over Egor Gerasimov on Monday‘I just need to play with more confidence, like I’m Serena,’ she added. The Austrian overcame another former New York winner, Marin Cilic, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 but dismissed suggestions that Nadal can’t be expected to win his 13th French Open this fortnight.

Source: Daily Mail September 28, 2020 20:34 UTC