News from 21 week 2012 : 20 May 2012 to 26 May 2012

Paris, France (Sports Network) -The reigning Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Djokovic and former champion Roger Federer were a pair of second-round winners Wednesday at the French Open.

Djokovic lost to Federer in last year’s French semis, which prevented the Serb from reaching his first-ever French Open final and ended a 45-match overall winning streak.

The five-time major champion Djokovic and Federer could meet in the semis here again next week.

The 16-time major champion Federer titled here in 2009 to complete a career Grand Slam and is a four-time French Open runner-up to Rafael Nadal, including last year.

Nadal is 46-1 lifetime at Roland Garros, including an Open-Era-record-tying six titles. He’s currently the reigning two-time champ, including a victory over his great rival Federer in last year’s finale.

The 10-time major champion Nadal lost to Djokovic in the last three Grand Slam finals.

Paris, France (Sports Network) – World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and former runner-up Samantha Stosur landed in the win column, while former runner-up Venus Williams was sent packing in the second round at the French Open.

Azarenka, a quarterfinalist on the famed red clay at Roland Garros last year, is trying for her second straight Grand Slam title. She won the Australian Open in January for her first career major championship.

“Being No. 1 is a difficult job, because everybody want to catch you, everybody want to move you from the spot,” Azarenka said. “Nothing is going to come easy just because you’re No. 1. You actually have more people… motivated trying to beat you.”

The consistent Radwanska dispatched the unseeded Williams 6-2, 6-3 one day after Williams’ younger sister and fellow former No. 1 Serena was a shocking first-round loser at the hands of France’s Virginie Razzano.

Venus lost to Serena in an all-Williams French Open title bout 10 years ago and hasn’t reached the final four here since.

Radwanska will face former top-five Russian star Svetlana Kuznetsova in the round of 32.

PARIS — Canadian Milos Raonic defeated American qualifier Jesse Levine 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the third round of the French Open.

The 19th-seeded Thornhill, Ont., native, will face a true clay test in the next round when he plays Argentina’s Juan Monaco after the 13th seed defeated Czech Lukas Rosol 7-6 (4), 6-0, 7-6 (5).

The Canadian will be playing for the first time against Monaco, who owns six ATP clay titles, including two this season.

Both men will be bidding to reach the fourth round in Paris for the first time.

“(The preparation) is not really too different,” said Raonic. “I’ve got to take care of my serve and play more forehands, not sit around and let the ball come to my backhand too much.

“I had a few opportunities today where I should have been running around a bit more. I need to do this, stay aggressive and try to control and dictate as much as possible.”