PARIS: After four days of play, the French Open was left without a Williams sister in the draw on Wednesday when former runner-up Venus joined 2002 champion Serena in making an early exit.
Venus, seven times a grand-slam winner but now coping with an autoimmune disease, went out tamely 6-2 6-3 to third seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Serena, whose shock first-round defeat by Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano reverberated through the Roland Garros courts on Tuesday, was in the stands to see her big sister thrashed by an in-form Radwanska.
Tennis fans rued the loss of both Americans, two of the biggest characters in women’s tennis, but thankfully the men’s favourites are playing to form and both world number one Novak Djokovic and record-breaking 2009 champion Roger Federer survived into the third round.
At least one of the Williams sisters has featured at every French Open since 1997, except for last year when they were both injured, and they contested the final in 2002, with Serena winning.
As though in sympathy with their troubles this year, rain came to Paris after three days of glorious sunshine, and play ended early with fifth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga level at 6-2 4-6 1-1 with German Cedric Marcel Stebe on Suzanne Lenglen court.
Venus showed flashes of her old self only at the end of the hour-long match with Radwanska when she won to love for 5-2 and then broke her opponent.
However, Radwanska, covering the whole court and playing some sublime shots, scooped the ball over the American’s head to get to matchpoint in the following game and then watched Venus put a forehand out.
Venus was quiet but determined not to be downcast in her news conference, saying she was still learning to live with Sjogren’s Syndrome.
“There are a lot of people who have it a lot worse than I do. I am still playing a professional sport,” the former world number one said.
“I haven’t gotten to the ‘why me?’ yet, I hope I never get to the ‘why me?’ I am not allowed to feel sorry for myself.”
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