After an early scare, world No. 1 Serena Williams overcame Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan to reach the semifinals of the French Open.
After an early scare, world No. 1 Serena Williams overcame Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan to reach the semifinals of the French Open.
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The defending champion was kept on her toes by a player ranked 60th in the world.
The defending champion was kept on her toes by a player ranked 60th in the world.
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Putintseva fought valiantly, winning the first set and having a break point at 4-3 in the second before Williams triumphed 5-7 6-4 6-1.
Putintseva fought valiantly, winning the first set and having a break point at 4-3 in the second before Williams triumphed 5-7 6-4 6-1.
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The American, seeking to win her 22nd grand slam title and equal Steffi Graf, will next face another outsider -- Kiki Bertens (pictured) -- in the semifinals.
The American, seeking to win her 22nd grand slam title and equal Steffi Graf, will next face another outsider -- Kiki Bertens (pictured) -- in the semifinals.
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Ranked 58th, the Dutch qualifier reached the last four of a grand slam for the first time by winning 7-5 6-2 against Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky, who was beaten by Williams in last year's semifinals.
Ranked 58th, the Dutch qualifier reached the last four of a grand slam for the first time by winning 7-5 6-2 against Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky, who was beaten by Williams in last year's semifinals.
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In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic proved too strong for world No. 8 Tomas Berdych, winning 6-3 7-5 6-3 to reach the semifinals in Paris for the sixth year in a row.<br />
In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic proved too strong for world No. 8 Tomas Berdych, winning 6-3 7-5 6-3 to reach the semifinals in Paris for the sixth year in a row.
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The Serb, seeking to win the only grand slam to elude him after losing three finals, almost hit a line judge with a flying racquet -- narrowly avoiding disqualification.
The Serb, seeking to win the only grand slam to elude him after losing three finals, almost hit a line judge with a flying racquet -- narrowly avoiding disqualification.
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Djokovic will next play Austrian 13th seed Dominic Thiem, who extended his best performance at a grand slam by beating fellow top-10 hopeful David Goffin in four sets.
Djokovic will next play Austrian 13th seed Dominic Thiem, who extended his best performance at a grand slam by beating fellow top-10 hopeful David Goffin in four sets.
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Goffin, seeded 12th in Paris, helped Belgium reach the 2015 Davis Cup final but before this week had never gone past the fourth round at a grand slam.
Goffin, seeded 12th in Paris, helped Belgium reach the 2015 Davis Cup final but before this week had never gone past the fourth round at a grand slam.
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