Svetlana Kuznetsova returns the ball to Galina Voskoboeva during their second-round match today at the French Open. Kuznetsova notched a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

PARIS — Venus Williams saved a match point before beating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-5 today and advancing to the third round of the French Open.

The third-seeded Williams began the match Wednesday, but play was suspended because of darkness after she lost the first set. She faced a match point while trailing 5-4 in the final set, but managed to hold serve, break Safarova and hold again for the win.

Williams has won seven Grand Slam titles in her career, but she lost to younger sister Serena the only time she reached the final at Roland Garros in 2002.

Jelena Jankovic moved a step closer to her third straight semifinal appearance at the French Open, beating Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2 today in the second round.

The fifth-seeded Jankovic won 15 of the first 17 points, and then broke her opponent in the final game of the first set. In the second, she recovered from an early break to win four straight games and closed out the match with her sixth break of service.

Jankovic lost in the semifinals at Roland Garros in each of the last two years. She made her first Grand Slam final at the 2008 U.S. Open.

Seventh-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia also advanced, beating Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan 6-0, 6-2. No. 24 Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada also won.

Later today, second-seeded Roger Federer and No. 4 Novak Djokovic are scheduled to play, as is No. 2 Serena Williams.

On Wednesday, veteran players Marat Safin and Fabrice Santoro said so long to the French Open, both departing from the clay-court tournament in the first week.