Former champion Serena Williams has crashed out of the French Open in straight sets after losing her third-round clash with world No24 Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-4.

“There are a lot of things I would try to do different, but you can’t rewind time,” Williams said.

Williams, the 2002 champion, was broken twice in the first set and once in the second as Srebotnik claimed the finest victory of her career. It was Williams' earliest exit at Roland Garros since 1999.

“I missed a lot of easy shots and a lot of key points that I felt like could have turned the match around,” a subdued Williams said shortly after the loss. “I wasn’t able to capitalize.”

Srebotnik booked a place in the fourth round for the second time in her career and will faces either Swiss 10th seed Patty Schnyder or France's Emilie Loit for a place in the quarter-finals.

Second seed Ana Ivanovic beat Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-1 to book her place in the last 16.
The Serb, who reached the final at Roland Garros last year, will meet unseeded Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic for a quarter-final spot.

Top seed Maria Sharapova also struggled against Bethanie Mattek before winning her second round match 6-2 3-6 6-2. Sharapova faces Karin Knapp of Italy next for a place in the quarter-finals.

(source Yahoo Sports, Telegraph, photo/Yahoo Sports)

Serena Williams crashes out, Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova progress in Paris