French Open 2016: Serena Williams looking to dominate Magdalena Rybarikova

Women’s tennis’ World No 1 Serena Williams and French Open defending champion, will be looking for a bright start to the French Open 2016 as she gets ready to take on Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova on Tuesday, Day 3 of the competition. The American tennis superstar has a total of 21 grand slams to her name, and will be keen on equaling Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam singles titles with yet another win.

Rybarikova, currently ranked 77 in the world, has meanwhile never gone past the second round at Roland Garros in as many as 8 attempts. She is definitely the underdog going into the match, but it must also be recalled that the 27-year-old defeated seventh-ranked Belinda Bencic in the Indian Wells this March.

Williams will however be looking to start her campaign on a high note after being unable to pocket another grand slam title earlier in the calendar year – she stumbled in the final of Australian Open 2016 in January.

The 34-year-old Williams has had a topsy-turvy year so far. After the Australian Open, she lost out in the final of a competition once again as Victoria Azarenka — who she could encounter in the quarterfinal of French Open 2016 – defeated her in the Indian Wells in March.

Her luck finally shone just ahead of Roland Garros 2016 as she clinched the Italian Open title after defeating Madison Keys in the final of the competition earlier this month.

Rybarikova has to work hard on court to at least avoid a straight-set defeat. Williams, who is vying for her fourth French Open title, defeated the Slovakian in their only previous encounter in straight sets at the Rogers Cup in Toronto back in 2013.