PARIS — Serena Williams lost in the first round of a major tournament for the first time, falling to Virginie Razzano of France 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 yesterday at the French Open.
The fifth-seeded Williams was two points from victory nine times in the second set, including leading 5-1 in the tiebreaker. But the 111th-ranked player won six straight points to force a third set, and then took control of the match.
“I made so many errors today, which isn’t the game I was playing in the past,” Williams said. “That’s life.”
Williams entered the day with a 46-0 record in first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments. She had been looking for her 14th major title, and second at Roland Garros.
On clay this year, Williams was 17-0 heading into the match with two titles. But she pulled out of her last match in the semifinals of the Italian Open with a bad back.
“I didn’t feel anything abnormal,” Williams said Tuesday when asked about the injury. “I was 100 percent healthy.”
Razzano jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third set, but Williams won three straight games before what turned out to be an epic, 23-minute ninth game.
Williams had five break points in that final game.
Razzano saved all five, however, and then converted her eighth match point to eliminate one of the tournament favorites.
“I had to dig deep against a great champion and you could see until the end that she gave away nothing,” Razzano said. “I had to go and get the victory. I had to be mentally strong, and I gave my everything.”
Razzano’s coach and fiance, Stephane Vidal, died about a week before last year’s French Open. Razzano played anyway, and lost in the first round.
Earlier, Rafael Nadal began his quest for a record seventh French Open title in style, wearing a pink shirt and pink shoelaces.
He won easily, too.
The second-seeded Spaniard had little trouble against Simone Bolelli of Italy, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier — the same stadium where Nadal has won six of his 10 Grand Slam titles.
Fourth-seeded Andy Murray also advanced, beating Tatsuma Ito of Japan 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.
And Maria Sharapova routed Alexandra Cadantu of Romania 6-0, 6-0 on Court Suzanne Lenglen, needing just 48 minutes to advance to the second round.
Sharapova, who lost in this year’s Australian Open final, is looking to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the title at Roland Garros.
The Russian has won the other three Grand Slam titles, but she has never reached the final at Roland Garros. Last year, however, she equaled her best result by making the semifinals.
“I feel like with every year I have improved and I enjoy it much more,” Sharapova said. “I think I learn a lot more about the game and the point construction. I feel like I’m moving a lot better than I did years previously, which has helped me a lot in the recovery process within the point.”