Maria enters last 16

World number one Maria Sharapova of Russia exults after winning a point against Karin Knapp of Italy during their French Open third round match at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday.Photo: AFP

Maria Sharapova led a Russian charge into the last 16 at the French Open on Saturday finally shaking off the poor form that has seen her struggle to live up to her top seeding.
The 21-year-old Russian world No.1 defeated Italy's Karin Knapp 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 with two contrasting sets.
In the first Sharapova again struggled with her serve and consistency as Knapp came within two points of taking a one set lead.
But in the second after breaking serve in a marathon second game, Sharapova visibly relaxed allowing her to deploy her impressive arsenal of groundstrokes.
She knows though that she will have to add more consistency to her game before going up against compatriot Dinara Safina with a quarterfinal place at stake. The pair have met five times with Sharapova winning three.
Safina made it through to the fourth round in Paris for the third straight year with a 6-2, 7-5 win over China's last representative Zheng Jie.
Following the two of them into the last 16 was 2006 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova who comfortably saw off another Russian, Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-1.
The fourth seed said that she had come into Paris in poor form but that just playing in a Grand Slam event had given her the boost she needed and she felt that she has the chance to go all the way this year.
"Definitely I think I have a chance," she said. "I think there are a few players who have a really good shot to win it and I hope one of them is me."
She next takes on rising star Victoria Azarenka of Belarus a player she has beaten on two previous occasions.
"She's tough. She can play good," Kuznetsova said. "She has nothing to lose but I believe I have more experience being out there. I think clay suits me a little better, but it's going to be a tough match."
The 18-year-old Azarenka, a former world junior champion, crushed Italian veteran Francesa Schiavone 6-1, 6-1 and she has lost only two games in her last two matches.
She lost to Kuznetsova in the fourth round of last year's US Open, but is convinced it will be different this time.
"I played her two times already. Probably won't be that scary anymore. It will be a good match I think," she said.
Also into the last 16 was the third seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia who defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 6-3 in a game held over from late Friday with Jankovic a set and 4-2 ahead.
In the men's tournament unorthodox Radek Stepanek continued his rich vein of form by seeing off Spanish claycourter Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 and he is on course for a semifinal tilt at top seed Roger Federer who he defeated recently in Rome.