7-5 - Venus goes 30-0 up after two quick-moving rallies see Safarova flounder with the killer shot, into the net the second time. And an unforced error again on that rally - into the net with a backhand at the baseline - gives Williams three match points! Williams delays the serve... and pounds it so hard that Safarova just stands there and it bounces off her racquet, on to the top of the net and back on her side of the court. Game, set and match and some entertaining, if error-riddled tennis.

5-5 - The crowd are annoyed at Williams for daring to reflect her superior ranking by going 30-0 up with yet another bullying display of brutal ground-strokes. Next up she shows off a deft backhand lob, two in succession, the second played weakly by the Czech into the net. Three break points to Williams! She loses the first one as Safarova pumps a backhand into the corner. The crowd prematurely cheer a Safarova smash that Venus stretches to loft back, although she gets the point anyway. And it's deuce now with an unforced error from Venus, getting over-excited and hitting it long.

4-5 - 30-30 now and the Williams grunt is getting fiercer as Safarova hammers it into the net, to the crowd's collective chagrin. But it IS match point for Safarova after a frustrated Williams smashes it into the net! Not for long though, a quite majestic double-hander down the line to send Safarova's service return skipping off the clay and white. Deuce.

4-5 - Safarrova goes 40-0 up, much to the crowd's delight, but an inch-perfect groundstroke into the far corner by Venus bounces just in. 30-40 now as Williams gets her act togther, but long with a backhand return and it's 4-5 with Williams serving to stay in the match.

3-4 - A bit of a squeal from Williams after she gets advantage and a break point, much to the crowd's annoyance. She was only geeing herself up, but they don't really seem to support the Americans at Roland Garros. And, after she goes long with a forehand, the crowd cheer and whistle with it back to deuce. Here we go, the fans in Paris are getting mouthy again... And they let out a collective roar alongside Safarova's when a quality pass down the line after a succession of cross-court shots leaves Venus at a standstill. Advantage to the Czech and long from Venus on the next rally, she holds, 3-4.

3-3 - A good game for Williams in response, almost a love game but her backhand is long, 40-15... great return from Safarova which Venus smashes into the net, 40-30... but Venus wins to hold with a cute volley at the net, which she got to quickly.

2-2 - Williams holds with ease in this tight third and final set, more in keeping with yesterday's play than the second, which was all Williams.

1-2 - Safarova holds despite a battling display from Williams, some good serves that Venus was able to return but usually at some cost. The winning point was quite superb too, a vicious pass from Safarova that even Williams could not hurl herself to reach.

0-1 - Safarova holds with a superb forehand across court into the far corner with Williams just admiring the shot.

5-2 - Great fight from Williams to battle from 30-0 down against serve to deuce with a superb backhand into the corner that Safarova just cannot match. And now advantage Williams after a poor drop-shot from Safarova fails to clear the net... Double fault follows, game Williams who is serving for the set!

3-2 - Could have been a love game for Safarova but a double fault gives Venus a chance. Not taken though, easy hold for Safarova.

2-1 - Safarova holds with comfort this time, but Williams is still a break up and looks full of energy so expect this to go the distance.

1-0 - Two break points for Williams, who looks up for it today, and he takes the break after a supremely powerful return almost knocks Safarova to the ground.

-- - Read all about Venus Williams here!

- - And that will do it for the day, the light is fading fast so rather than starting the second set now, they will reconvene tomorrow. Venus Williams has a lot to ponder when she goes to bed tonight.

6-6 - Safarova slams the ball into the net twice which just crawls over the net.

6-6 - Safarova holds her serve as well. We are going to a tie-break.

5-5 - Williams finds herself in front but cannot push home the advantage.

4-4 - Richard Williams has given up, and it looked like at the wrong time as his daughter had a break point. She could not take it though, Safarova taking the game on a big forehand.

3-3 - Williams breaks back with a cute chip over the net.

1-3 - Safarova starts with an ace and does not look in any trouble from then on.

0-2 - Safarova holds her serve well.

- - These two have met twice before with Williams taking them both. They played in Rome a couple of weeks ago where Venus Williams took that match, winning 6-2 4-6 6-2.

- - Readall about Venus Williams here.