Sharapovaoncourse tomeetSerena
FRENCH OPEN Returning to event after two years, former world No 1 destroys No 6 seed Pliskova PARIS:
Maria Sharapova was back on Roland Garros’ main stage for the first time in three years and put on a dazzling display as she demolished Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the French Open fourth round.
While the Russian was at her imperious best, 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.
Kvitova, one of seven women’s Grand Slam champions in action on Day Seven, was edged out in a tight tussle on Court One -- snapping a 13-match winning run.
But the day’s big story was Sharapova’s win. Absent from the tournament for the last two years after failing a drugs test in 2016, organisers opted not to roll out the red carpet for her comeback as they scheduled her away from the main Philippe Chatrier court for her opening two matches.
But once she returned to the stage where she hoisted the Suzanne Lenglen trophy in 2012 and 2014, the Russian showed she was could still be a destructive force as she left 2017 semi-finalist Pliskova running for the exit after 59 minutes.
SERENA UP NEXT
Next up will be a meeting with either her long-time nemesis Serena Williams, who has beaten Sharapova in 18 successive encounters dating back to 2005, or Julia Goerges.
EASY FOR MUGURUZA
Meanwhile, 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.
STEPHENS TESTED
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.
Giorgi came into the contest knowing she had the game to Fiery Italian Fabio Fognini launched into a tirade against supposed preferential treatment for the ATP’s ‘NextGen’ players at the French Open.
The 18th seed said it was unfair that young players who have yet to impress at Grand Slam tournaments are given matches on trouble the American, having won their last two encounters in straight sets, and it was no different on Saturday as she served for the match at 5-4 and again at 6-5.
But Stephens kept her nerve to break back on both occasions and was mightily relieved when she saw Giorgi’s backhand zip beyond the baseline on her first match point.
Stephens will hope her body does not suffer too much fatigue from the two hours 26 minutes tussle as she will be back on court on Sunday for a showdown with Czech Petra Kvitova’s conqueror, Estonian 25th seed Anett Kontaveit.
ROME: