Tennis, Women's Tennis | featured news

Serena Williams hit 23 aces, held every service game and barely escaped an upset bid by Zheng Jie, winning 6-7 (5), 6-2, 9-7 Saturday in the third round at Wimbledon.

American teenager Sloane Stephens says maturity is making her more of a threat, and she's into the third round at Wimbledon. Later, seventh seed Caroline Wozniacki lost 5-7 7-6 6-4 to Austrian Tamira Paszek in a disrupted first-round clash.

Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, lost in the first round Monday to Elena Vesnina of Russia, 6-1, 6-3.

Maria Sharapova defeated Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2, to win the French Open and become the 10th woman to win a career Grand Slam.

Defending champion Li Na needed three sets to stop American Christina McHale at the French Open on Saturday. The seventh-seeded Li, who last year became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title, rallied to beat McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The loss to Virginie Razzano of France ranks among the most unexpected upsets in the recent history of the French Open.

Maria Sharapova was nearly perfect in the first round of the French Open, winning all 12 games to produce a "double bagel."

Former world number one Kim Clijsters says she will retire after attempting to win a fourth US Open title in September.

Already outplayed by Sam Stosur in the U.S. Open final, the last thing Serena Williams needed was to lose a game for yelling during a point. That's exactly what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than – but reminiscent of – the American's tirade two years ago at the same tournament. In the end, Stosur beat Williams 6-2, 6-3 Sunday in a surprisingly lopsided upset for her first Grand Slam title.

Serena Williams, a three-time champion, radiated joy Saturday night after advancing to her first Open final since 2008 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki.