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French Open day four: Serena Williams withdraws as Rafael Nadal breezes through

Serena Williams was forced to pull out ahead of her second-round match against Tsvetana Pironkova.

The 23-time grand slam champion came into the tournament nursing an Achilles injury she picked up during her semi-final defeat at the US Open earlier this month.

Meanwhile, 12-time champion Rafael Nadal laid down a marker with a thumping 6-1 6-0 6-3 win over Mackenzie McDonald.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at day four at the French Open.

Picture of the day

France Tennis French Open
Norway’s Casper Ruud took a tumble on his way to beating Tommy Paul (Michel Euler/AP)

Stat(s) of the day

Smash of the day

Yulia Putintseva’s win over Nadia Podoroska wasn’t all plain sailing.

Quote of the day

Match of the day

France Tennis French Open
Alexander Zverev had to work hard for his place in round three (Christophe Ena/AP)

Sixth seed Alexander Zverev is no stranger to a five-set marathon and he came through another to squeeze past Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The German, runner up to Dominic Thiem at the US Open earlier this month, won 2-6 6-4 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4.

Fallen seeds

Women: Serena Williams (6)
Men: John Isner (21), Benoit Paire (23)

Up next

Novak Djokovic and Stephanos Tsitsipas headline on Chatrier while former champion Garbine Muguruza faces Kristyna Pliskova on Suzanne Lenglen.