Tonite in Paris the last two fourth-round matches closed the final eight field as Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic joined Victoria Azarenka, Maria Kirilenko, Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sara Errani and Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros 2013.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova got past Sloane Stephens with a 6-4 6-3 victory. The Russian made the sole break of serve in the seventh game to ensure the first set and after an exchange of breaks in the beginning of the second set Sharapova again broke Stephens in the fifth game and soon triumphed.
In the last fourth-round clash of Roland Garros, in just 16 minutes Jelena Jankovic established a 5-0 lead against Jamie Hampton, and in a bit longer sixth game, on the fourth set point by Jankovic, Hampton was bageled when she made the 14th unforced error of the first set. The 54th-ranked Hampton responded by breaking Jankovic in the opening of the second set, but the former world No.1 broke back right away, then again in the fourth game of the set and again in the eighth to finish the match 6-0 6-2. In the second set Hampton was more resistant initially, but her unforced errors couldn’t stop mounting and JJ enjoyed an easy passage into the quarters.
For the first time in nine years there were four US women in the fourth round of a Grand Slam and today three of them lost: Bethanie Mattek Sands, Sloane Stephens and Jamie Hampton.
JJ and Maria, first meeting on clay. Maria is the favorite but JJ plays consistently better on clay. Maria is playing good tennis right now. JJ is playing very well. I know that it will be an entertaining match. Be honest, did anyone expect to see JJ this deep at the French?
P!nky, I didn’t, despite her recent quite good results. I’m so happy to see her focused and confident. I’m not expecting her to beat Sharapova, although I would love that to happen, just for the thrill 🙂