Careless Serena Williams slides out of French Open

SERENA Williams was eliminated from the French Open yesterday, squandering a match point and losing her quarter-final to Australia's Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 8-6. Williams, a 12-time slam winner, won her only French Open title in 2002 and hasn't been to the semi-finals since 2003. "I guess it's a redundant story with me," she said. "It was my match, and I lost it."

The upset was the second in a row for the No 7-seeded Stosur, who also beat Justine Henin, and surprises keep coming at Roland Garros. Four-time champion Rafael Nadal defied the trend, beating Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in an all-Spanish quarter-final. But No 3 Novak Djokovic lost to Jurgen Melzer 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.