SERENA WILLIAMS is back in the third round at the French Open.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion beat 174th-ranked Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 Wednesday.

At last year’s tournament, which was moved to a September start because of the pandemic, Williams retired prior to her second-round match due to an Achilles injury.

Williams has won the French Open three times — in 2002, 2013 and 2015.

Williams next faces fellow American Danielle Collins, who overwhelmed Anhelina Kalinina 6-0, 6-2 in 62 minutes.

Collins reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros last year.

On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev is finally making some headway on the red clay of Roland Garros. The two-time finalist reached the third round in Paris for the first time by coming back from a poor start to eliminate Tommy Paul of the United States by a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 score Wednesday night.

The No. 2-seeded Medvedev carried an 0-4 record at the French Open into this year’s draw. But he is 2-0 in Week 1 this time so far.

The runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the 2019 U.S. Open and to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open this February next plays big-serving American Reilly Opelka, who is seeded 32nd.

Opelka will also be in the French Open’s third round for the first time. He advanced Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Jaume Munar.

French Open organizers say that both members of a men’s doubles team have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been dropped from the tournament. The players were placed in quarantine. The tournament did not identify them.

(SD-Agencies)