Serena sets up Sharapova blockbuster
PARIS, (Reuters) Former world number one Serena Williams delivered a commanding performance to defeat German Julia Goerges 6-3 6-4 at the French Open yesterday, and set up a fourth-round encounter with her longtime rival Maria Sharapova.
Williams, playing her first Grand Slam following a maternity break, broke Goerges’ serve three times to secure the victory in an one hour and 15 minutes.
“Today, I was very solid,” Williams said after the match. “Goerges is a very difficult opponent. But I don’t know — I go, I play, and I win.”
The 23-time Grand Slam winner will next face Russian Sharapova, who recorded a comfortable 6-2 6-1 win over sixth-seeded Karolina Pliskova.
Williams leads the head-to-head record against Sharapova, with 19 victories and just two defeats, and their last encounter - a straight-sets win for the American took place in the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinals.
World number one Simona Halep booked her place in the second week of the tournament with a 7-5 6-0 win over German Andrea Petkovic, who was struggling with a knee injury.
Spanish third seed Garbine Muguruza struck 15 winners on her way to a 6-0 6-2 victory over Australia’s Samantha Stosur.
Defending men’s champion Rafa Nadal turned in another ruthless display to beat French hope Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-2 6-2.
Nadal said he was pleased with the improving court conditions at Roland Garros, having earlier complained about the surface being slippery during his first-round victory.
“I think the courts are improving — that’s my feeling,” Nadal, who wrapped up a straight-sets win over Richard Gasquet in the third round, told reporters.
“The problem the first days, the gravel, I don’t know, from the back was coming up and then was mixed with the clay, so that was the problem. That’s why it was very slippery.
“I believe that every day the courts are (getting) better and better.”
Nadal extended his run of consecutive set wins at Roland Garros to 34. Only Sweden’s six-time champion Bjorn Borg, who won 41 consecutive sets on the Paris clay from 1979-81, has recorded a longer streak at the tournament.
Next up for Nadal is German youngster Maximilian Marterer, who will make his first roundof-16 appearance at a Grand Slam.
Ninth seed American John Isner has reached the fourth round to match his best performance in Paris, beating local hope PierreHugues Herbert 7-6(1) 6-4 7-6(4).
Fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro reached the second week in Paris for the first time since 2012, defeating claycourt specialist Albert RamosVinolas 7-5 6-4 6-1.
French number one Caroline Garcia booked a place in the last 16 for a second consecutive year, beating Romanian IrinaCamelia Begu 6-1 6-3.
Third seed Marin Cilic struck 35 winners one his way to a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over American Steve Johnson.
The Croatian moved into the last 16 at a major for the 20th time and took sole ownership of the record for most round-of16 appearances at a Grand Slam by a Croatian man.
Argentine Diego Schwartzman continued his steady progress with a 7-5 6-3 6-3 win over Croatian Borna Coric as the 11th seed reached the