New era could be Taylor-made

She plays the violin, dances something called the NaeNae and has ridden to the rescue of American tennis just as the shock of Serena Williams' French Open exit was still being absorbed.

Taylor Townsend, the 18-year-old world No 205 making her Grand Slam debut, rocked up at Suzanne Lenglen court and held her nerve to see off French No 1 Alize Cornet 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Suddenly the shocking back-to-back second-round losses of defending champion Serena and sister Venus earlier on Wednesday were cushioned by the ungainly teenager from Stockbridge, Georgia.