Sharapova posts unconvincing win
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Second seed Maria Sharapova recovered from a second-set blip to move into the last 16 of the French Open Saturday, reports BBC.
The 20-year-old was 4-1 down in the second set against fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva and dropped serve three times in total but still won 6-1 6-4.
Sharapova appeared to be troubled by the injury which recently kept her out for two months, flexing her right shoulder in between points.
However, she goes through to face 14th seed Patty Schnyder.
"I can't expect a lot from my shoulder this week," Sharapova said. "At times I still feel it during the match.
"I played a solid first set and then had a little bit of a let down and made a lot of unforced errors.
"I am happy the way I came back after that but it was also lousy as not a lot of people are going to allow me to get away with that."
Schnyder needed three sets to see off Grand Slam debutante Karin Knapp but eventually triumphed 6-1 4-6 7-5.
Ana Ivanovic was another early winner Saturday, crushing unseeded Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-2 6-0.
The seventh seed needed just 65 minutes to end Olaru's Grand Slam debut at the third round stage.
The 19-year-old, who won the German Open in May, believes she is a contender for the title.
"I got a lot of confidence from Berlin, it helped me a lot," said the Serb. "I have improved in the mental side of things in the last couple of months.
The 20-year-old was 4-1 down in the second set against fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva and dropped serve three times in total but still won 6-1 6-4.
Sharapova appeared to be troubled by the injury which recently kept her out for two months, flexing her right shoulder in between points.
However, she goes through to face 14th seed Patty Schnyder.
"I can't expect a lot from my shoulder this week," Sharapova said. "At times I still feel it during the match.
"I played a solid first set and then had a little bit of a let down and made a lot of unforced errors.
"I am happy the way I came back after that but it was also lousy as not a lot of people are going to allow me to get away with that."
Schnyder needed three sets to see off Grand Slam debutante Karin Knapp but eventually triumphed 6-1 4-6 7-5.
Ana Ivanovic was another early winner Saturday, crushing unseeded Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-2 6-0.
The seventh seed needed just 65 minutes to end Olaru's Grand Slam debut at the third round stage.
The 19-year-old, who won the German Open in May, believes she is a contender for the title.
"I got a lot of confidence from Berlin, it helped me a lot," said the Serb. "I have improved in the mental side of things in the last couple of months.