Serena Williams loses to Sofia Kenin in third round
Three-time champion Serena Williams was stunned in the French Open third round by unseeded American Sofia Kenin.
Williams, 37, was seeded 10th at Roland Garros but lost 6-2 7-5 to her 20-year-old compatriot.
The defeat means Williams’ quest to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles continues.
“I’m so happy with this win – obviously you can tell with these emotions,” a crying Kenin told the crowd on Philippe Chatrier.
“Playing against Serena, you have to fight for every point.”
Williams’ defeat followed the shock exit by world number one Naomi Osakaa few hours earlier and leaves only three top-10 players left in the women’s draw.
Earlier in the day, defending champion Simona Halep enjoyed a straightforward victory, beating Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-1 to reach the last 16.
World number 35 Kenin will play Australian eighth seed Ashleigh Barty in the fourth round, while Halep faces unseeded 18-year-old French Open debutant Iga Swiatek.
Kenin, who received a walkover in the second round after Bianca Andreescu withdrew, was fired up from the outset and has now won 11 of her last 13 matches against compatriots.
