A new women’s champion will be crowned at Roland Garros this year after fifth seed Serena Williams crashed out 6-4 6-4 to Slovenia’s Katarina Srebotnik in the third round on Friday.

Williams, winner in 2002 and the only former champion in the women’s draw, always looked second best as Srebotnik, seeded 27th, took 90 minutes to claim her first win over the American in four meetings.

Broken twice in the first set, Williams upped her game in the second but the Slovenian made the breakthrough in game nine as a fluffed drop shot from Williams gave her the vital break.

She booked a place in the fourth round for the second time in her career when Williams shoved a forehand wide and now faces Patty Schnyder or Emilie Loit for a place in the quarter-finals.