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Serena puts away Mladenovic after rain delay

Jacky Naegelen / Reuters

Serena Williams needed five match points after waiting out a rain delay of more than 2 1/2 hours, but she eventually moved into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (10) victory over 26th-seeded Kristina Mladenovic of France.

In a tight, well-played match at Court Philippe Chatrier, action was suspended Saturday when a thunderstorm arrived right before Williams and Mladenovic began the second-set tiebreaker.

Once they resumed, Williams erased one set point for Mladenovic at 9-8 with a swinging forehand volley winner. Four times, Williams was a point from victory in the tiebreaker - at 6-5, 7-6, 8-7 and 10-9 - and couldn't close it out. But on the fifth opportunity for Williams, Mladenovic pushed a forehand wide to end the match.

Williams had plenty of chances to take control earlier, but she converted only 1 of 12 break points, including going 0 for 9 in the second set. She saved all four break points she faced in the match.

Williams, the No. 1 seed, is trying to become the first woman to win consecutive titles at Roland Garros since her former rival Justine Henin took three in a row from 2005-07. Henin happens to be helping coach Williams' next opponent, No. 18 Elena Svitolina.

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