Maria Sharapova will take one step closer to her first Wimbledon title in eight years today if she overcomes Tsvetana Pironkova in her second-round clash on Court One.

Venus Williams joined sister Serena in making an early exit from the French Open as she crashed out to third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round.

Victoria Azarenka had some sympathy for Serena Williams after banishing memories of her own first-round struggles at the French Open by breezing into round three.

Last year’s runner-up Samantha Stosur began her French Open campaign in impressive fashion with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Iveta Benesova this afternoon.