Zverev withstands huge challenge

German star Alexander Zverev earned his place in the men's singles last 32 of the French Open where China's Wang Qiang posted her personal best record at Grand Slam tournaments.

On Wedensday, second-seeded Zverev had to come from 2-1 down to see off Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in three hours and 24 minutes.

"I didn't play my best in the first three sets. Once I found my range and rhythm, I felt good out there," said the 21-year-old Zverev.

Lajovic's compatriot Novak Djokovic, the 2016 winner recovering from elbow injury, swept Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-4.

"Obviously he was well prepared for the match. Credit to him for fighting and playing well. I went through my ups and downs, and are not really satisfied with the performance," commented the No. 20 seed.

"I just played enough at the right moment to win the match. Hopefully the level will increase and get better in the next match," he added.

Highly-ranked players joining Zverev and Djokovic in the third round are David Goffin and Grigor Dimitrov.

In the women's singles, China's Wang finally found her way into the last 32 at a Grand Slam tournament in her seventh attempt. The 85th-ranked Chinese overcame Croatia's Petra Martic, who sat 50 places above her, 6-1, 6-1.

"I didn't play her before, so I needed to do what I should do and play more aggressively," commented Wang, who will next face Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

In the women's doubles, five Chinese players fared differently, as Yang Zhaoxuan, Xu Yifan and Duan Yingying went through the first round, while Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai had to stop their quest forward.

Undoubted spotlight in women's doubles, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, came from one-set deficit to beat Japanese duo of Aoyama Shuko and Kato Miyu 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Peng and Zhang will play their singles second round matches on Thursday. China's Zheng Saisai and Wang Yafan are also set to play their doubles opening matches.