31st May, 2012
The Olympic quest continues for Venus Williams after a historic loss at the French Open.
The American was ousted in the second round in Paris yesterday, a day after Serena Williams lost her opening match. It added up to the worst performance for the sisters in a major tennis tournament.
Still, Venus Williams stayed on course for what she said was her primary goal, a berth in the London Games this July.
“This tournament for me was all about getting to the Olympics,” she said after a 6-2, 6-3 loss to third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland yesterday. “If that happens for me, I think the chances are good, then I come out a victor.”
Williams is ranked 53rd, and her first-round win in Paris will push her to around No. 48, according to the women’s WTA tour. The Olympic tennis tournament will be at the All England Club, where Venus has won five Wimbledon singles titles and four doubles crowns with Serena. The London Games start 27 July.
Britain’s Andy Murray, seeded fourth, plays Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen today at Roland Garros. Defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal of Spain faces Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, and defending women’s champion Li Na of China meets Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France. Women’s second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia plays Ayumi Morita of Japan.