PARIS: Defending champion Serena Williams needed five match points before downing battling French hope Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 7-6 (12/10) to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros on Saturday.
The top seeded American, chasing a fourth Paris title and record-equalling Open era 22nd Grand Slam crown, goes on to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarter-finals.
