Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova advanced to the fourth round of the French Open with straight-set victories on Saturday. The Serb stayed on course for a first Grand Slam title when she beat Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 6-3, while the Russian completed her first two-setter at 2008 French Open defeating Italian Karin Knapp 7-6(4) 6-0.
The match between Jankovic and Cibulkova had been halted in fading light on Friday at 7-5 4-2. After the resumption Cibulkova failed to hold her second service game and Jankovic wrapped up the win in an hour and 51 minutes.
As for the match between Sharapova and Knapp, the first set, which lasted 81 minutes, suggested yet another tough encounter for the world No.1 Sharapova in Paris. However, the second set was a complete domination of the Russian and she advanced to the fourth round.
For a place in the quarterfinals third seed Jankovic will face Polish 14th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, and top seed Sharapova will meet compatriot Dinara Safina, seeded 13th.
