Maria Sharapova survives another round at Roland Garros

Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros 2008Top seed Maria Sharapova had to play another unexpected three-setter at the 2008 French Open to beat world No.106 Bethanie Mattek and advance to the third round.

Sharapova, who started her Roland Garros campaign with a scrappy performance against Evgeniya Rodina, finally beat Mattek in two hours and three minutes. Final score was 6-2 3-6 6-2.

The 21-year-old Russian will play Italy's 32nd seed Karin Knapp for a place in the third round. (source: Reuters, photo: Tennis Channel)

Serena Williams stunned by Katarina Srebotnik in French Open third round

Serena Williams at Roland Garros 2008Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik scored the biggest victory of her career and the biggest upset of the 2008 Roland Garros defeating eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams 6-4 6-4 in the third round.

Fifth seed Williams suffered her earliest exit at the French Open since 1999. Also, the 2002 French Open winner Williams was the only former champion in this year’s draw, which now means we will have a first-time women's champion.

World No.5 Williams converted only one of eight breakpoint chances during the match, and in the second set that proportion was 0-for-6. Also, Williams failed to finish her well-constructed points, and lost 14 of 21 points at the net.

Until today, Williams was 3-0 in career meetings with Srebotnik, who is currently ranked 24th in the world. However, in their last match on clay at the Family Circle Cup in April, Srebotnik took the opening set before Serena won 4-6 6-4 6-3.

The No. 27-seeded Srebotnik will play either Emilie Loit or tenth seed Patty Schnyder in the fourth round at Roland Garros. (via OTB, AP; photo via Tennis Channel)

Anna Chakvetadze out of Roland Garros in the second round

Anna ChakvetadzeWorld No.6 Anna Chakvetadze became the highest seeded player to lose at Roland Garros 2008.

The sixth seed fell to Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-4 7-6 in the second round, after dropping serve four times and losing the tie-break 7-2. Last year, Chakvetadze reached quarterfinals at the French Open.

World No.49 Kanepi will next face either Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, seeded 29th, or Tsvetana Pironkova. (via Reuters, photo: Getty Images)

Amelie Mauresmo loses to qualifier in French Open second round

Amelie MauresmoTwo-times Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo was upset in the second round of Roland Garros by Spanish qualifier Carla Suarez Navarro with the final score 6-3 6-4.

No.22 seed Mauresmo, who before Roland Garros had not played since last month's Fed Cup tie in Japan due to an abdominal injury, refused to blame the injury for yet another disappointing result at the French Open.

On her Grand Slam debut the 19-year-old Suarez Navarro beat Pauline Parmentier in the first round, and could next face a third Frenchwoman in a row if Nathalie Dechy were to beat Australian Casey Dellacqua. (source: Reuters, photo via Tennis Channel)

Venus Williams, Jelena Jankovic advance to Roland Garros third round

Jelena JankovicVenus WilliamsEighth seed Venus Williams and third seed Jelena Jankovic moved into the third round of Roland Garros in straight sets.

William’s victory was more dominant than Jankovic’s. The American defeated Tunisia's Selima Sfar 6-2 6-4, while Jankovic had to come from behind in the second set to beat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 6-2 7-6 (7-5).

Despite making 25 unforced errors, Williams was too strong for the 31-year-old qualifier ranked 241st in the world. As for Jankovic, she took the first set in 37 minutes but struggled to wrap up her victory after needing treatment on her thigh. World No.80 Erakovic served for the second set at 6-5 and also led 5-3 in the tie-break, but Jankovic then won four straight points and clinched victory.

In the third round of the 2008 French Open, Venus Williams will face Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, seeded 26th, and Jelena Jankovic will play Slovakian 28th seed Dominika Cibulkova. (via BBC, photos: Getty Images)


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