Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik holds her hand to her chest after defeating United States player Serena Williams during their third round match at the French Open tennis tourna-ment in Paris yesterday. - AP

PARIS (AP):

American sisters Venus and Serena Williams were eliminated in the third round of the French Open yesterday, both losing in straight sets more than eight hours apart.

Katarina Srebotnik defeated Serena 6-4, 6-4, followed by Flavia Penetta's 7-5, 6-3 victory over Venus.

The double defeats meant that for the first time in the Open era, there will be no American woman in the fourth round at Roland Garros. The only United States player left is Robby Ginepri on the men's side. Winners of 14 Grand Slam titles, the Williams sisters lost to two tour veterans who have never reached a major quarter-final.

"It wasn't a good day for our family," Venus said. "But we always learn and get more determined after a loss. We'll just come back harder."

For Serena, missed opportunities came in a flurry. She shanked overheads, hit wild volleys and squandered six break points.

Unforced errors

But Venus never really gave herself a chance, losing serve six times and committing 29 unforced errors as Pennetta repeatedly bested her in long rallies.

"I was a little inconsistent," Venus said, "I was pretty upset about losing the first set and didn't stay focused on the big picture and let it get away from me."

To beat the older Williams, Pennetta had to beat darkness and she closed out the victory with a forehand winner at 9:47 p.m. Seeded 26th, Pennetta advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time.

Serena's hasty exit matched her earliest in nine visits to Roland Garros and guarantees a first-time women's champion. Williams, who won the French Open in 2002, was the lone former champion to enter the draw.

"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 Serena said, "I wasn't able to capitalise."

Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal played for the fourth consecutive day in the rain-interrupted tournament and defeated Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the fourth round. Number three-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Wayne Odesnik 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova and number two Ana Ivanovic advanced. In the completion of a second-round match halted in the second set Thursday because of darkness, Sharapova beat American Bethanie Mattek 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Ivanovic reached the fourth round by beating 17-year-old Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-1. Number three Jelena Jankovic was leading number 28 Dominika Cibulkova 7-5, 4-2 when darkness forced their match to be suspended.

Other winners

On the men's side, number 10 Andy Murray was eliminated by number 19 Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5, and number 15 Mikhail Youzhny lost to number 22 Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.

Among those staying for the fourth round was number 10 Patty Schnyder, who defeated Emilie Loit 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-2. Number 11 Vera Zvonareva and number 25 Nadia Petrova completed rain-interrupted, second-round wins.