Williams sisters fight through

Paris, May 28 

Thunderclaps, rain delays, an inspired home favourite roared on by a partisan crowd — it was all in a day's work for reigning champion Serena Williams as the world No. 1 roared into the second week of the French Open.

The 34-year-old American needed all her experience and tenacity to fight off France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 7-6(10) in an absorbing contest to set up a last-16 clash with Justine Henin’s new charge, 18th seed Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian beat 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-4.

"It was very difficult today she played really well," Williams, bidding for a fourth French Open title, said. "She forced me to play my best tennis today." 

There was further French disappointment later when popular sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire against unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis leading 5-2. Tsonga, who has come closer than anyone to emulating Yannick Noah, the last home man to win the French Open in 1983, walked off with tears in his eyes after appearing to hurt his knee.

Ninth seed Venus Williams reached the fourth round for the first time since 2010 when she downed Alize Cornet 7-6(5) 1-6 6-0 in a rain-disrupted match. Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, last year's semifinalist Timea Bacsinszky and unseeded Kazakh Yulia Putintseva all booked their fourth-round spots before the rains came. 

As did rising Austrian Dominic Thiem, the 13th seed, who continued his fine claycourt season to beat German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 6-3.

The 22-year-old will face Marcel Granollers next, not more illustrious Spaniard Rafael Nadal who rocked the tournament on Friday when he withdrew because of a left wrist injury.

Spain's ever-reliable David Ferrer reached the last 16 for the sixth consecutive year by beating compatriot Feliciano Lopez.

Paes, Hingis knock out 4th seeds, enter quarters

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis moved a step closer to their first French Open crown together as they breezed into the mixed doubles quarterfinals after dispatching fourth seeds Yaroslav Shvedova and Florin Mergea. 

Unseeded Paes and Hingis, who won three Grand Slams in 2015, erased a one-set deficit to eke out a 2-6 7-5 10-6 win over a formidable combination in a rain-hit contest.

Kyrgios slapped with French Open’s largest fine

Australian Nick Kyrgios has been slapped with the largest fine at the French Open for uttering an audible obscenity during his third round loss to Richard Gasquet. 

The 21-year-old was fined $6,200 after tournament officials reviewed the footage of his straight-set defeat to the Frenchman. — Agencies