Venus Williams loses in 2nd round at French Open

Venus Williams of the U.S. returns the ball during the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Wednesday, May 28, 2014. AP

PARIS — Venus Williams was eliminated from the French Open in the second round, the eighth time in her last nine major tournaments that she has failed to win more than one match.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion won the first set and was up an early break in the second against Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia. But Schmiedlova responded by taking eight of nine games and won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Since reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2011, Williams has been eliminated in the first or second round at every Grand Slam tournament she has played except the 2013 Australian Open, where she reached the third round.

Later Wednesday, defending champion Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were scheduled to play. In the men’s tournament, both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were to play.

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