French Open 2021 LIVE - Serena Williams, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas all in second round action

Day four of The French Open sees Serena Williams continue her quest for a record 24th Grand Slam as she faces Mihaela Buzarnescu in the second round.

Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev takes on Tommy Paul, while Aryna Sabalenka goes up against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Alexander Zverev faces Roman Safiullin and Stefanos Tsitsipas is also in action against Pedro Martinez.

That's it for Day 4 of Roland Garros 2021. Join us again from 11am BST on Thursday for more action from Paris.

Medvedev seems to like clay after all as he hits back from the blow of losing the first set to outclass the hard-working Paul in two hours and 16 minutes. He breaks to love to take it on his third match point. He’ll now meet Opelka in round three.

And again Paul refuses to go down without a fight! The American saves two match points as Medvedev seems to tighten up at the last second. Paul breaks from deuce. On we go!

Not to be for Paul. He can’t make things interesting as Medvedev hammers a backhand winner from way beyond the baseline to break again to love. He’ll now serve for the match.

This guy never gives up! Paul goes after Medvedev in the rallies and punishes a couple of weak drop shot attempts. The first serve saves two break points but for once the American outlasts the Russian on a third opportunity. He has one break back.

He’s on the board. Paul probably won’t pull off a minor miracle here but at least he’ll avoid the humiliation of a bagel to finish.

Double break consolidated. Medvedev sweeps a crosscourt backhand home to turnaround a very brief moment of concern at 15-30.

That could spell the end for Paul. He’s the first to blink in a lengthy baseline battle and offers up two break points. Medvedev makes it count on the second with a rasping forehand up the left flank to claim a double break.

The American keeps battling but, again, he can’t do enough despite fighting back from 30-0 down. Medvedev consolidates and has his sights firmly set on round three now.

That’s poor from Paul and it could spell the worst for him. Some leaky play offers up two break points. A big serve swats away one but a wayward forehand means Paul is up against it once again right at the start of Set 4.

The Medvedev serve continues to reign supreme. He cruises to a love hold to move in front.

Medvedev will have to serve for the 2-1 lead. Credit to the American. After being blown away for a set and a bit Paul has made it more of a match once more.

The serve and the forehand completely overwhelm Paul. He has no real chance to engage Medvedev as the Russian wastes little time consolidating.

That’s a real shame for the American. Medvedev suddenly races through the gears and edges a high-class game. Both players throw the kitchen sink at each other but it’s the Russian who edges it from deuce as Paul lashes a forehand wide defending a second break point.

Don’t count him out just yet! A trio of surprising unforced errors and a sublime crosscourt lob from Paul see the world number 52 bite back. That’s a real lull from Daniil after he had looked in complete control.

Medvedev sees a cute lob attempt drop wide while Paul finds some decent first serves to stay in contention.

Too good. Paul is barely getting a slither on the return game here. Medvedev drops just the one point to maintain his advantage. Periods of dominance can shift quite often in tennis, but it’s hard to see it switching enough for Paul to turn this around at the moment.

Respite! Paul has to work ever so hard as Medvedev threatens at 30-30 from 30-0 down. The American is able to stop the rot at five games on the spin as he somehow nicks the last two points to get on the board.

If you blinked you may have missed it. Medvedev consolidates with a turb-charged love hold.

When your opponent’s defence appears almost impenetrable at times and their attack can almost seamlessly carve through your own rearguard, it must be a deflating feeling. That’s where Tommy Paul’s been stuck at for the last half an hour or so. He manages to fend off triple break point but sees all of that clutch tennis come unstuck when he volleys a crosscourt return way beyond the tramlines on a fourth. The Medvedev charge continues.

All square. The No.2 seed serves it out to 15 to gobble up a second-set breadstick in super quick time. It's one-way traffic at the moment with plenty for Paul to think about.

That’s a shocker. Paul can’t quite find the court, netting on a couple of occasions to hand over the double break to love. Medvedev will now serve to level it at 1-1.

The big first serve finds its mark and it’s another simple and highly effective hold to 15 to keep Daniil on course to take the set.

That’s some tasty tennis right there. Medvedev nails a sublime forehand down the line on the slide to make 30-30 but a clever serve ands volley followed by a one-two forehand punch are enough to get Paul on the board.

The world number two backs up the break with a game to 30. Paul’s level may have dropped a touch but it’s the Russian who has definitely looked to bring more of his A-game to the court. It’s paying off too.

Momentum shift? The man nicknamed Meddy Bear ups the stakes with some seriously deep crosscourt backhands that are landing plum on the line. He lures the errors out of Paul and gives himself a major boost with his first break to 15.

That’s a fine statement of intent from Medvedev. He opens Set 2 with a convincing love hold. He needs to raise it a notch here.

The big serve initially comes to the rescue as Paul battles back from 0-30. Medvedev saves a set point to keep the heat on at deuce before Paul grabs another after passing a defiant Daniil at the net. The Russian refuses to go away but wastes a break back opportunity with a tame crosscourt backhand into the net. Paul blows a third chance but finally prevails on a fourth when Medvedev slices a bizarre attempt wide.

No messing there. Medvedev charges through a rapid love hold to pose the serve-out question. Can Paul hold his nerve here?

Tommy boy! The world number 52 consolidates to 15 as Medvedev’s radar continues to malfunction ever so slightly.

Medvedev is first to blink! A double fault coughs up triple break point and the Russian goes to big on the backhand drive trying to force the initiative. He’s broken to love and the American takes charge!

The 24-year-old American angles a wonderful winner on the volley to kick things off. He’s settling into this nicely now. Medvedev threatens to make deuce from 40-15 down with some supreme defence at the net but then rifles a backhand just long of the baseline. Paul nudges the board once more.

A wicked second serve and a brutal ace down the middle T keep Paul at bay.

The American slaps down some timely big serves to ease in front from deuce after squandering a 40-15 lead. Medvedev looks content to play the waiting game in the long rallies but can’t manufacture the break opportunity on this occasion.

No such drama for Daniil as a timid backhand into the net from his opponent gives him a helping hand to a simple hold to 15. The Russian looks the more assured in these fledgling moments.

A five-minute opening game involves some hefty serving juxtaposed by attritional exchanges from the baseline. Paul edges it from deuce but will hope for some more routine holds than that as the match progresses, particularly if he’s to make a real impression on the proceedings.

Number two seed, Daniil Medvedev is due on Chatrier for the official night session from 20:00 BST. He faces American Tommy Paul.

It was far from straight-forward but Serena books her spot in round three, breaking to love to claim victory in two hours and three minutes.

Serena moves to within a game of victory. Buzarnescu does everything she can to halt the charge. She makes deuce by winning the point of the match. It’s on Williams’ racket but she fails to put the game to bed on several occasions as some incredible defence denies her. The world number 174 then belies her ranking with a sumptuous drop shot. It leaves everyone grinning, but she then blows her own sitter into the net to miss out on a BP and allow SW to wriggle free.

It’s just four break points from a possible 13 converted for SW now. She’s denied the prospect of a potential bagel as Buzarnescu digs in to make deuce before hanging tough to prolong this match a bit longer.

The American backs up the double break with a hold to 15. Mihaela’s resistance is fading a little now as the three-time champion edges closer to round three.

Breathing space! Serena unloads the power off the backhand and then the forehand from 30-30 to secure the double break. Buzarnescu’s movement and punchy shots have caused her real problems this evening, but she has a strangle-hold on this match now.

Close call! Williams consolidates but she survives two break points from deuce. The world number 174 may well look back on that game.

Williams earns another break point – and this time Buzarnescu helps her convert with an untimely double fault.

Wow! Buzarnescu takes us into a decider! She gets a big piece of fortune when Serena can’t adjust to a flick off the net cord and hooks a backhand out to cough up set point. The three-time champion rallies hard but is undone by a stunning crosscourt backhand winner.

How frustrating for Serena. She conjures two more break points but can’t get it done. A brilliant serve plus one pushes Buzarnescu to deuce and the American hooks a hurried backhand wide. It’s another get out of jail card played by the Romanian who is guaranteed the minimum of a TB.

The Romanian doesn’t get the look-in she was hoping for. Serena stands firm, dropping just the one point, to stay in contention to finish the match in this set.

Serena will be ruing some of those missed opportunities early in the set as Buzarnescu has really warmed to the task. She applies the scoreboard pressure with a game to 15, closing it out with a lovely crosscourt winner.

Serena consolidates with a hold to 15. We are level once more!

It’s that big scream again! Buzarnescu slaps a tight attempt into the net and Williams had the break back after the Romanian underdog had threatened to deny her once again by saving the first of two opportunities with a corking forehand up the line.

That’s a huge surprise! Williams lets out a trademark scream after saving triple break point with a serve-overhead combo. Her level immediately dips though and when a fourth chance comes along, Buzarnescu gets her reward for fighting so hard in her service games.

That’s another let off for the Romanian. Serena clocks up two more break points, but again isn’t ruthless enough. She wastes the second with an ill-conceived high bouncing drop shot and Mihaela gets out of dodge by showing her how it’s done with an absolute beauty to finish.

There was a slight dip from Serena there – and another double fault – but Buzarnescu can’t make any sort of inroads. All square.

Finally some respite on serve. Buzarnescu flashes through her own love hold. She’s come under the cosh in the last few games but Serena couldn’t do anything on the return there.

No danger on the Serena serve. She polishes off another love hold with a swanky dropshot that Mihaela is a million miles away from getting.

That’s gritty from the world number 174. It was looking bleak as two double faults handed Serena an immediate chance to break again, but she dug in with a forehand winner and crosscourt pass to force deuce before edging over the line to snare the early scoreboard advantage.

The former world number one is not messing about. Her serving mojo continues to flow along very nicely as she eases the set out in 31 minutes via a simple love hold.

Ouch. A double fault coughs up the break after Serena had chalked up two bites at the cherry with a typically ferocious forehand. She will now serve for the set.

That was rapid! Williams nudges the board as we enter the business end of the set with a very tidy love hold.

That’s an excellent response from Buzarnescu. She comes under pressure for the first time and has to fend off break point from deuce. A miscued crosscourt forehand from Serena and then a bullet backhand down the line help the underdog to come through unscathed.

The No.7 seed continues to dominate on serve. The powerhouse delivery is breaching Buzarnescu’s defences all too frequently for the Romanian’s liking and even a double fault is easily shrugged off.

The Romanian pulls level once more but Serena blew a chance to make things interesting at 40-15 when she completely fluffed an attempt at a drop shot with the court at her mercy.

Serena’s serve is doing some significant damage already. A pair of aces ease her through another routine hold to 15. There’s a steely focus about the American so far today.

That’s smart tennis from Mihaela. A delightful, wrong-footing crosscourt backhand and a deliciously low, late slice lead her towards an early hold after a double fault and some aggressive returning had given Serena thoughts of pushing through an early break.

Serena steps to the service line and barely breaks sweat. She saunters to a love hold t kick things off, finishing the game with a wide ace.

Buzarnescu's best run at a major was here at Roland Garros in 2018 when she reached round four. This will be her first ever match against Williams.

Welcome to LIVE updates of on the most high profile matches on Day 4 of the 2021 French Open. Next up on Court Philippe-Chatrier we have 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams up against Romanian world number 174 Mihaela Buzarnescu.

Harmony Tan v Marketa Vondrousova

Karen Kachanov v Kei Nishikori

Serena Williams v Mihaela Buzarnescu

Tommy Paul v Daniil Medvedev

Alexander Zverev v Roman Safiullin

Polona Hercog v Caroline Garcia

Stefanos Tsitsipas v Pedro Martinez

Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Aryna Sabalenka

Daria Kasatkina v Belinda Bencic

Henri Laaksonen v Roberto Bautista Agut

Victoria Azarenka v Clara Tauson

Enzo Couacaud v Pablo Carreno Busta

Katerina Siniakova v Veronika Kudermetova

Fabio Fognini v Marton Fucsovics

Mackenzie McDonald v Cristian Garin

Elena Rybakina v Nao Hibino

Tamara Zidansek v Madison Brengle

Casper Ruud v Kamil Majchrzak

Filip Krajinovic v John Isner

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ajla Tomljanovic

Laslo Djere v Miomir Kecmanovic

Paula Badosa v Danka Kovinic

Leylah Fernandez v Madison Keys

Petra Martic and Shelby Rogers v Timea Babos and Vera Zvonareva

Alicja Rosolska and CoCo Vandewegh v Andreea Mitu and Yulia Putintseva

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina v Botic Van de Zandschulp

Aleksandra Krunic and Martina Trevisan v Karolina Pliskova and Kristyna Piskova

Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson vs Tomislav Brkic and Nikola Cacic

Sorana Cirstea v Martina Trevisan

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut and Cameron Norrie and Johnny O'Mara

R Opelka v J Munar

Thiago Monteiro v Steve Johnson

Federico Delbonis v Pablo Andujar

Danielle Collins v Anhelina Kalinina

Marcos Giro v Guido Pella

Salma Djoubri and Oceane Dodin v Amanda Anisimova and Anastasia Potapova

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Watch all the action from the 2021 French Open live on Eurosport, eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app with 13-time champion Rafael Nadal eyeing a remarkable 14th title at his favourite event and 2020 Roland Garros sensation Iga Swiatek aiming to replicate her stunning triumph in Paris.