Venus, Tsonga crash out in Rd 2

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams made her second consecutive US Open second-round exit as German sixth seed Angelique Kerber ousted the American 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 yesterday.

The loss made this the first year in Williams' pro career, which began in 1997, that she has not gone past the second round in any Grand Slam tournament. "Losing a match like this isn't a lot of fun, but that's sport," Williams said.

Venus Williams and Jo-Wilfried Tsongau00a0

Williams missed a chance to avenge a third-round loss to Kerber at the London Olympics.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams registered a 6-2, 6-4 win over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to book a spot in the third round.

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic also reached the third round with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden.

Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska almost suffered a fourth successive second-round exit before fighting back from a set and 3-1 down to beat Spain's Carla Suarez-Navarro 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.

In the men's event, French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga crashed out to his worst Grand Slam showing in more than five years with a second-round 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat at the hands of unheralded Martin Klizan. u00a0