Elena Rybakina is two service holds away. The 21-year-old has the game's all-time great pinned.

But Serena has won from here before. And will again. Will it be today?

Suddenly the wheels look wobbly on the Serena-mobile. She leaks three points to unforced errors and suddenly has 0-40 and three break points worth of sticky stuff to contend with...

Image source, Getty Images

Trouble brewing briefly for Elena Rybakina at 30-30, but she holds steady to close out the game and keep the second on serve...

Iain Carter
Radio 5 Live commentator

She's really digging herself back into this match after going a break down.

As word spreads about this match, the court is filling up.

Serena Williams catches a backhand a little thick and sends the ball long over the baseline to allow Elena Rybakina to 30-30.

She gives the clay a long, hard look.

Rybakina has a large slice of court to aim for on the next rally with Serena flat-footed and in front court.

But she drifts wide as her feet stick as if in concrete wellies.

Serena takes the game with an ace and Rybakina might be replaying that shot a few times on the hotel pillow tonight...

Elena Rybakina needed that one. A service hold to 30, topped off with a lovely forehand cross-court whip and a serve to the body, puts the brakes on Serena Williams momentum.

This one is right on a knifeedge now. The plot is as predictable as a framed forehand.

Serena Williams has flicked a switch. She is in a gear that no other player in the game has.

She whisks away an eighth successive point and Elena Rybakina just trying to hang on in the draft.

A fourth successive winner leaves Elena Rybakina groping at thin air and put the match back in the balance.

This one is suddenly fluctuating like bitcoin stock. One for Alexis, in the stands, there.

You won't like her when she is angry.

Serena wearing Incredible Hulk green, rips a monster forehand down the line to bring up 15-40 and two break points.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Roland Garros

Rybakina's capable of winning this but she has got no experience at this stage of a Slam.

Elena Rybakina smokes a return off the centre of the strings, all brimstone and cemtex, to puncture a hole in the American queen bee's serve,

An absolute rascal of a drop-shot from Elena Rybakina sets up three break points.

You have got to like the cut of her jib so far in this.

Serena in big danger at 0-40 south at the start of the second.

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Played tactically very well, going back behind Serena.

She really needs to lift her level here and get her feet moving.

What we expected if you've seen Rybakina play before.

Image source, Getty

Well, well, well.

Elena Rybakina has kept the pedal to the floor and she is over the horizon with the first set safely stashed away.

Serena Williams will have to take the long route if she is to make the quarter-finals.

Well, that is bold.

Elena Rybakina shoves her chips on the table with an attempted second-serve ace down the T. Just wide.

Serena stays alive in the opener. Deuce.

Elena Rybakina batters Serena Williams back towards the posh seats to bring up 40-15 and two set points...

Serena saves the first with a double-handed backhand punch down the line.

Still another to come though...

Elena Rybakina lands a forehand with a magician's flourish and suddenly she will serve for the set....

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Serena's feet just stopped moving before she made contact with the ball. Terrible time for that kind of mistake.

Serena Williams has all the time to line up a backhand, pick an angle and hit the winner at 30-30. Instead she twangs her shot into the top of the net.

She crumples in disbelief. Break point Rybakina...

A bullwhip ace, cracking through the service box in a puff of red dust, sees off a second Williams break point.

But Rybakina crumbles at the third time of asking, duffing a fairly routine groundstroke over the back.

Serena Williams is back on serve...