TENNIS – Maria Sharapova (2) beat Sam Stosur (26) 6-3 6-4 after 1 hour and 40 minutes: They played very tight marches in the past which were often decided in 3 sets. Stosur came just two points away from the win last year but this time Sharapova had no such trouble to secure the win. She will now face Lucie Safarova (13) who overcame Sabine Lisicki (20) 6-3 7-6(2). Sharapova leads the head-to-head 4-1 over Safarova. Diego Sampaolo
“The last time was a really tough match in Stuttgart where she was serving for the match. I know I have a tough match ahead of me. Lefties are always tricky,” said Sharapova.
Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic (7) cruised past Donna Vekic with 6-0 6-3 in 53 minutes to qualify for the fourth round in a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2014 Australian Open. It is also the first time since her triumph in Paris in 2008 that Ivanovic has reached the fourth round at the Roland Garros. Ivanovic will take on Ekaterina Makarova (9) who beat Elena Vesnina 6-2 6-4. Makarova and Vesnina are not only compatriots, they are also doubles partners. They won the 2013 French Open and 2014 US Open doubles titles together.
Flavia Pennetta (28) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (8) 6-3 6-4 avenging a loss here to Navarro back in 2008. Pennetta held the first game of the opening set before seven consecutive breaks of serve. Pennetta managed to hold her serve to win the first set. Pennetta broke serve at 4-4 in the 2nd set and served it out to qualify for the fourth round in the Roland Garros for the 3rd time in her career. Pennetta will face another Spanish player, Garbine Muguruza (21) who knocked of Angelique Kerber (11) 4-6 6-2 6-2. Muguruza has beaten Pennetta beat her twice but both matches were on hard court.
France’s lone hope left in the women’s draw Alizé Cornet (29) bounced back from a set down to edge past Mirijana Lucic Baroni with 4-6 6-3 7-5. Cornet will play Elina Svitolina (19) who beat Annika Beck 6-3 2-6 6-4.
