Sharapova wins in three sets; Safina into third round on Day 4 in Paris

Maria Sharapova proved to be back in her best form on Wednesday, after ousting compatriot Nadia Petrova in three tough sets, while No. 1 seed Dinara Safina easily won her match on Day 4 in Paris, France at the French Open.

Sharapova easily won the first set, then lost the second with a similar score. Even though Petrova was up 4-2 in the third set, and had points for 5-2, Sharapova shrieked her way through to win the match with a score of 62 16 86.

"She really showed, even though she has been out for a while, that she's willing to compete until the end," Petrova said. "I'm disappointed I didn't finish it off when I had everything in my hands. That's what I need to do to become a better player and win titles, go for my shots without doubts. But Maria showed she's a real champion. I really felt the confidence and power behind her shots."

"These types of matches are really important for me. I'm spending more time out there than I want to, but I'm learning so many new things as well," Sharapova said. "When you haven't played for such a long time and you're put in these situations, many things come back to you. This was a great match where I had to fight my way through many, many challenges, and I did."

Safina easily demolished Vitalia Diachenko with a score of 61 61.

No. 8 seed and defending champion Ana Ivanovic also won her match easily, against Tamarine Tanasugarn, 61 62.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (Q) Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 61 61

(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 61 62

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Kristina Barrois (GER) 76(1) 75

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (11) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 62 16 86

(Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. (15) Zheng Jie (CHN) 64 63

(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 61 60

(22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 62 64

(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 61 64

(27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 62 76(2)

(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 62 60

(32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 61 62

Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 76(5) 06 62

Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) 36 64 62

Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 63 67(3) 75

(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) 60 62

Suspended due to darkness

Lucie Safarova (CZE) leads (3) Venus Williams (USA) 76(5)