Sharapova advances to quarterfinals
PARIS – Maria Sharapova saved two match points Sunday and advanced to the quarterfinals at the French Open by beating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 3-6, 6-4, 9-7.
Schnyder served for the match three times, at 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6 in the third set. She was one point away from ending the match in the 10th game and again in the 14th – and she also was two points away from victory on 11 occasions.
When Sharapova pulled it out on her first match point, as the 14th-seeded Schnyder sailed a forehand wide to get broken again, the Russian covered her face with both hands and looked on the verge of tears. As both players met at the net, there was a mix of boos and applause.
The second-seeded Russian will next face No. 9 Anna Chakvetadze, who beat No. 25 Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
Sharapova pumped her fist and screamed encouragement to herself throughout the third set at Roland Garros.
In the 15th game, Sharapova won a disputed point when serving at 30-love. Schnyder watched the serve land in the box, but complained she wasn’t ready.
Serena Williams and Justine Henin also won, setting up a quarterfinal showdown. Williams beat Dinara Safina of Russia 6-2, 6-3, while two-time defending champion Henin beat No. 20 Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-2, 6-4.
Roger Federer also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4. The top-ranked Swiss star tied the Open-era record for most consecutive sets won at Grand Slams, taking his streak to 35.
Federer next faces No. 9 Tommy Robredo, who defeated No. 29 Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. Federer beat Robredo at the Australian Open.
Williams took a 4-0 lead in the first set, but struggled at times in the second.
The 10th-seeded Safina broke Williams at love to even the second set at 3-3, but the American then won 12 of the last 14 points.
Henin is trying to win her third French Open title.
Third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced by beating No. 15 Shahar Peer of Israel 6-4, 6-3, and No. 6 Nicole Vaidisova reached the quarterfinals by defeating No. 19 Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-3, 6-1.
In the quarterfinals, Vaidisova will face No. 4 Jelena Jankovic, who beat Marion Bartoli of France 6-1, 6-1. Seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic also advanced, beating No. 24 Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and will next play Kuznetsova.
On the men’s side, Guillermo Canas defeated Juan Monaco 6-0, 6-4, 6-2.
This is Canas’ first major since serving a 15-month ban for doping after testing positive for a diuretic in 2005.
Canas will face Nikolay Davydenko, who beat No. 15 David Nalbandian 6-3, 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (2), in the quarterfinals.