Serena, Osaka crash out of Roland Garros

SERENA Williams suffered her earliest Grand Slam exit since 2014 when she crashed out of Roland Garros on Saturday, ending her bid to win a record-equalling 24th major, just hours after world No 1 Naomi Osaka also suffered a shock defeat.

Williams was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by US compatriot Sofia Kenin, who wasn’t even born when the American legend made her Paris debut in 1998, in the third round.

Top seed Osaka’s hopes of winning a third successive Grand Slam ended when she was knocked out by unheralded Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-2.

Their losses mean that 14 of the top 20 seeds in the women’s draw have failed to make the second week in Paris.

It was 37-year-old Serena’s earliest exit at the Slams since a third round loss to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon in 2014.

Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams was attempting to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors. – AFP