Serena Williams is slated to headline NBC’s coverage of the French Open, live on Saturday from 12-3 p.m. ET.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, faces No. 11 Julia Goerges of Germany in the third round. The winner gets two-time French Open champion Maria Sharapova in the round of 16.
Williams, ranked 451st in the world due to her maternity-leave absence, is unseeded at Roland Garros, a tournament she won in 2002, 2013 and 2015.
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Earlier Saturday, No. 28 seed Sharapova, in her first French Open since 2015, trounced No. 6 Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-1. U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens survived Italian Camila Giorgi 4-6, 6-1, 8-6 to reach the fourth round.
Rafael Nadal continued his quest for an 11th French Open title by beating Frenchman Richard Gasquet for a 16th straight time -- 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. He gets No. 70 Maximilian Marterer of Germany in round four.
Ted Robinson handles play-by-play for NBC’s coverage, joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. This is NBC’s 36th straight year broadcasting the French Open.
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FRENCH OPEN: TV/Stream Schedule | Scores | Men’s Draw (PDF) | Women’s Draw
