Shara po va on course to meet Serena
Returning to event after two years, former world No 1 destroys No 6 seed Pliskova
Maria Sharapova would relish the opportunity to take on Serena Williams at the French Open, stating that her hard work allows her to “bring it” in such high-profile encounters. Former world No 1 Sharapova booked her place in the fourth round at Roland Garros with a straightsets 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Karolina Pliskova, potentially setting up a clash with fellow great Williams if she can overcome Julia Goerges.
While Sharapova has spoken in the past of her struggles against Williams, who she has beaten only twice on the WTA Tour, she is in confident mood after a fine start to her campaign in Paris. “I think there are a lot of things in (Serena’s) game that she’s done much better than I have,” the Russian told a news conference. “The records certainly don’t elaborate on that --numbers don’t lie.
“But, of course, I came into Europe and Stuttgart with not a great record, not playing great tennis with a lot of injuries, and have been able to turn that around a little bit. I have been able to put myself in this position of playing better tennis. That’s what I continue to work for, of course. You don’t put those hours on the back courts in Bradenton, Florida to just show up at events like this and not bring it.
“Any time you play against Serena, you know what you’re up against. You know the challenge that is upon you,” she continued.
“Despite the record that I have against her, I always look forward to coming out on the court and competing against the best player. I will look forward to doing that if she wins this one.”
Eighth seeded Petra Kvitova’s hot streak on clay ended in disappointing fashion as the Czech lost 7-6(6), 7-6(4) to Anett Kontaveit.
Former champion Garbine Muguruza reached the last 16 with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win over Australia’s Sam Stosur.
Spanish third seed Muguruza, the 2016 winner in Paris and the reigning Wimbledon champion, fired 15 winners past Stosur, the 34-year-old 2010 runner-up and former US Open champion.
After wrapping up the first set in just 25 minutes, Stosur only got on the board in the third game of the second.
“I knew this would be very tough against a former US Open winner and a player who has made the final here,” said the 24-year-old Muguruza.
US Open champion Sloane Stephens clung on for dear life to reach the fourth round with a 4-6, 6-1 8-6 victory over Italian Camila Giorgi.
The American 10th seed had dropped just six games in her previous two matches and stepped onto a sunbathed Court 18 holding a perfect record against Italian opponents at Majors.
But such statistics mattered little to Giorgi and she left Stephens yelling “What the hell’s going on?” after breaking the American to go 6-5 up in final set.
HALEP PROGRESSES
Top seed Simon Halep maintained her steady progress when she beat Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 7-5 6-0 to reach the fourth round on Saturday. Relegated to the new Court 18 for the day, the Romanian had to battle for an hour to take the opening set but sped through the second with a minimum of fuss.
Any time you play against Serena (Williams), you know what you’re up against. You know the challenge that is upon you.
MARIA SHARAPOVA, On the potential clash with Serena