Sharapova, Kuznetsova reach last 16 at French Open
Sunday, 1 June 2008
PARIS, May 31 (AFP): Top seed Maria Sharapova and Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova strolled into the fourth round of the French Open Saturday.
Maria Sharapova reached the last 16 of the French Open Saturday by defeating Karin Knapp of Italy 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.
As in the first two rounds though it was painful progress for the world No.1 whose power game and flat-hitting is ill-suited to the rigours of claycourt tennis.
Knapp, who reached her first WTA final in Antwerp in February, stayed the course in the first set until 3-3 before Sharapova grabbed the first break of the match.
The Russian though was misfiring on her own serve and she allowed Knapp to level the set at 5-5 and then force a tie-break.
Knapp had an early mini-break in that to lead 2-1 but four points in a row from Sharapova turned the tables and she was relieved to win it 7/4 smacking a crosscourt backhand winner on set point.
Meanwhile, Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova strolled into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-2 6-1 drubbing of compatriot Nadia Petrova on Saturday.
The 2004 US Open champion, tipped as a possible winner by just retired four-times champion Justine Henin, will next face 16th seed Victoria Azarenka after the Belarusian crushed Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-1.
Kuznetsova, a finalist at Roland Garros two years ago, got off to a flying start, breaking twice to open a 3-0 lead and although she dropped serve once, she took the opening set after 40 minutes when the 25th-seeded Petrova netted a forehand.
The 22-year-old Kuznetsova maintained her momentum and broke in the first game of the second set, again in the fifth and seventh to seal victory after 69 minutes when Petrova netted yet another forehand.
Maria Sharapova reached the last 16 of the French Open Saturday by defeating Karin Knapp of Italy 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.
As in the first two rounds though it was painful progress for the world No.1 whose power game and flat-hitting is ill-suited to the rigours of claycourt tennis.
Knapp, who reached her first WTA final in Antwerp in February, stayed the course in the first set until 3-3 before Sharapova grabbed the first break of the match.
The Russian though was misfiring on her own serve and she allowed Knapp to level the set at 5-5 and then force a tie-break.
Knapp had an early mini-break in that to lead 2-1 but four points in a row from Sharapova turned the tables and she was relieved to win it 7/4 smacking a crosscourt backhand winner on set point.
Meanwhile, Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova strolled into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-2 6-1 drubbing of compatriot Nadia Petrova on Saturday.
The 2004 US Open champion, tipped as a possible winner by just retired four-times champion Justine Henin, will next face 16th seed Victoria Azarenka after the Belarusian crushed Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-1.
Kuznetsova, a finalist at Roland Garros two years ago, got off to a flying start, breaking twice to open a 3-0 lead and although she dropped serve once, she took the opening set after 40 minutes when the 25th-seeded Petrova netted a forehand.
The 22-year-old Kuznetsova maintained her momentum and broke in the first game of the second set, again in the fifth and seventh to seal victory after 69 minutes when Petrova netted yet another forehand.