Serena defies boos to progress

Serena Williams was greeted with jeers and whistles but then eased into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-0 6-4 victory over Croatia’s Silvija Talaja.

The Wimbledon champion needed a convincing performance following her three-set scare against 17-year-old Russian Maria Kirilenko in the second round but it was never that, even against an opponent in Talaja who appeared totally overwhelmed by her first meeting with arguably the best women’s player on the planet.