By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Warm conditions through the first few days of this Roland Garros have created quicker court conditions.

Thriving on the fast track after a slow start, Venus Williams sped into the third round today.

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Contesting her Open Era-record 20th French Open appearance, a sharp Williams reeled off 11 of the last 12 games dismissing Kurumi Nara, 6-3, 6-1, in 80 minutes.



It was the 36-year-old American's eighth victory in nine major matches this season.

With younger sister Serena Williams watching from the support box, Venus fell behind 1-3, then picked up the pace of her shots, found her range and rhythm and began commanding the center of the court.

The 2002 French Open finalist forced the 90th-ranked Japanese into defensive positions reeling off eight straight games to take charge.

"In the beginning, I felt a little bit tentative,” Williams told Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim afterward. “How I want to play this tournament is aggressive—if it goes in or goes out.

"I just tried to step it up. She played some amazing games in the beginning. It was kind of hard to get the ball past her, so I was happy to kind of figure that out."

Williams whipped 30 winners compared to six for her opponent and converted five of 14 break points avenging a 6-4, 6-3, loss to Nara at Indian Wells last year.

While Serena's entrance drew attention from fans, Venus said she was too preoccupied with the task at hand to take notice.

"She said 'good job.' She came in sometime during the match, I don't know exactly when" Venus said. "I'm sure she feels the excitement of being at a major and not having the pressure to play and prepare. It must be an interesting feeling, to say the least.

"She knows exactly what it's like out there. She's had a lot of success here. So if she stays through the end, I would like that."

The 10th-seeded Williams will play either Richel Hogenkamp or 60th-ranked Elise Mertens for a place in the round of 16.

World No. 1 doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands played a spirited and creative match stopping the Roland Garros comeback of Petra Kvitova, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), in two hours, six minutes.

Serving-and-volleying at times, the 2015 Roland Garros doubles champion kept Kvitova off balance. Mattek-Sands won 18 of 27 net points and attacked with vigor in both tie breaks.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, who underwent surgery to her left hand in December after suffering a stabbing in a horrific home invasion attack, was playing just her second match of the season and still doesn’t have full filling in one of her fingers. Rust was evident as Kvitova clanked nine double faults and converted just four of 14 break points.

When Kvitova put a forehand in return at net, Mattek-Sands earned match point. Kvitova double faulted into the net on match point and spiked her Wilson racquet in frustration at that transgression. The pair are good friends—Mattek-Sands won the French Open doubles crown alongside Lucie Safarova, Kvitova’s friend and Fed Cup teammate—and engaged in an emotional embrace at net.

"I was just saying how inspired I was by her comeback, especially what happened to her, the emotional stuff she was dealing with and that’s what I told her after the match," Mattek-Sands said.

Through to the third round for the first time since 2013, the 117th-ranked American qualifier will take on former US Open champion Samantha Stosur for a spot in the fourth round.

The 23rd-seeded Stosur slashed 33 winners conquering Kirsten Flipkens, 6-2, 7-6 (8).

The 2010 runner-up has not dropped a set advancing to the Roland Garros third round for the ninth consecutive year.

Jelena Ostapenko did not drop serve pounding a 6-3, 6-2, decision over Olympic gold-medal champion Monica Puig in 68 minutes.

The 47th-ranked Latvian will play Lesia Tsurenko in the third round. The world No. 42 converted five of six break points dispatching Ekaterina Makarova, 6-2, 6-3, one round after Makarova toppled world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.