French test the focus for Serena

General / Editor / 19 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Serena Williams vowed she would come back fitter and stronger for the French Open after crashing out of the Italian Open to Patty Schnyder.

US star Williams said there were no excuses for an error-strewn performance which led to Swiss star Schnyder edging a final set tie-break to come through 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-5) and reach the semi-finals, for which she is the 3.25 outsider against the warm favourite, Jelena Jankovic (1.43), in Betfair's match odds market.

Williams, who beat her sister, Venus, in the 2002 final at Roland Garros, admitted she did not deserve to go through in Rome but promised to return in better condition.

"I just didn't make the shots that I should have. I probably hit about 50 unforced errors, which is pretty good to get to 7-6 in the third set," said Australian Open champion Williams.

"I think not winning is going to work well for me because it will give me time to get even fitter for the French Open. As soon as I start to believe in myself I'm going to be a lot better."

In the other half of the draw in Italy, second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fellow Russian, Dinara Safina, 6-1 6-3 and will now play ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 7-6 7-5.

Kuznetsova and Jankovic are the joint 2.5 favourites in Betfair's outright winner market to triumph in Italy, with Schnyder (6.4) and Hantuchova (8) next best.

Williams, meanwhile, is trading at 5.3 to triumph at the French Open, behind three-time winner and hot favourite, Justin Henin, on 2.52.