Summary

  • Maria Sharapova beats Sam Stosur 6-3 6-4

  • Defending champion into 4th round

  • Sharapova to face Safarova in last 16

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

  1. Maria SharapovaAP

    Nuggety battler Sam Stosur at the opposite end?

    A swirling wind?

    A French Open crowd peeved by her not doing on-court interviews in each of her last two matches?

    That was a potentially nasty little match, skilfully enough defused by Maria Sharapova. I think we can expect at least another appearance in the last four for the Russian.

    That is us for today. See you tomorrow for Andy Murray v Nick Kyrgios and a host of other delights.

    Laters.

  2. This is the small print beneath the scoreline. It looks like Sharapova's consistency off the floor made up for some wayward serving.

    Stosur-Sharapova

    Aces: 1-1

    First serve %: 62-51

    Double faults: 5-6

    Win % on first serve: 61-76

    Win % on second serve: 36-43

    Winners: 19-12

    Unforced errors: 34-21

  3. Saturday's schedule

    Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    "Some breaking news - Saturday's schedule is out and Andy Murray v Nick Kyrgios will be first on Court Suzanne Lenglen at 10:00 BST.

    "Novak Djokvic v Thanasi Kokkinakis is second on Chatrier, with Serena Williams v Victora Azarenka fourth and last. With Rafael Nadal also in action against Andrey Kuznetsov, we have a big day ahead."

  4. Emotional Sharapova

    I'm not sure if it was the effects of a cold or emotion, but Maria Sharapova was moist of eye as she stared up to her players' box at the end.

  5. Paul Newman
    Tennis correspondent for the Independent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Maria SharapovaGetty Images

    "You can see what it meant to Sharapova with her reaction. She's clearly not feeling well and although Stosur didn't play well, Sharapova stuck to her task and most importantly won in straight sets. Getting through is all that matters at this stage."

  6. Sharapova delight

    Maria Sharapova: "I'm really happy with this victory and I am really happy to be in the next round. With the help of my fans here and the memories of wining this tournament a couple of times - as I was lucky enough to do - this court feels like a really good space for me.

    "My top is inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier. Obviously when you come to Paris you want to be tres chic."

  7. Game, set and match

    Sharapova cantering towards the finishline as she works up 40-0 in a twinkle.

    A slight stumble as she buries a forehand south of the tape, and then a stutter as she drifts long to hand back a second break point. 40-30.

    But this is not the full Devon Loch. She pummels a big forehand straight down the funnel and Sam Stosur cuffs long as she struggles to dampen down the power to fold out.

  8. Sam StosurGetty Images

    Sam Stosur is not going to be run out of town just yet.

    The Australian keeps her cards on the table as she shows lovely touch in a exchange of drop-shots on the final point.

    The guillotine awaits however.

    Sharapova, whose serve has stood up well to the wind so far today, will try and close this one out next.

  9. Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    "The spider-cam tracks ominously above our heads, its colleague on Court Suzanne Lenglen having already done for a poor unsuspecting pigeon earlier today.

    "Stosur is starting to look a bit like she's wandered into the path of an unstoppable machine this afternoon, with Sharapova hardly hitting the heights but having too much Grand Slam savvy even for a U.S. Open champion."

  10. Maria SharapovaEPA

    Maria Sharapova is not in the mood to hang around.

    She steps in and slaps away a fine crosscourt forehand for 40-0.

    It feels like both players have mentally signed up to the pattern we have seen so many times before with Sharapova wearing down an initially tricky opponent and then roaring off to victory.

    Stosur nips back a point with a fine defensive shot on the run, but that alone is not going to shift the narrative.

  11. Sharapova breaks

    Sam StosurReuters

    Sam Stosur telegraphs a drop-shot so far in advance, Maria Sharapova could have RSVPed last week.

    The Russian hares in to accept the invitation, thrashing away a midcourt ball for 0-30 and an opening.

    That is a waste though. With acres of wide open red clay to aim for at 15-30, she pushes long down the line. Grimaces and grizzles from the Russian.

    But she needn't worry. Sam Stosur is the one that has trouble tethering down an errant serve and another double fault gifts Sharapova a break.

    The defending champion has her toe on Stosur's windpipe. Two holds away..

  12. Paul Newman
    Tennis correspondent for the Independent on BBC Sport website

    "Stosur was striking the ball well earlier in the set and was looking good, but she's making too many errors now."

  13. Maria Sharapova's serve is looking the more secure of the two.

    The Russian bustles her way through another game, saving physical exertion and mental concentration for breaking Stosur.

  14. Maria SharapovaReuters

    Sam Stosur grips and rips on her forehand, tonking away a winner for 40-30.

    It is a formidable weapon, but the other wing is less reliable. Backhand floating lazily long, refusing to drop before the baseline and Sharapova has a free pass into deuce.

    Sharapova blocks back a return right up onto the whitewash to catch out Stosur as she attempts to rush in behind a crackerjack serve, but Stosur sees off the break point.

    The quality-meter is creeping north. Both players are unearthing gold as they battle back and forth in entrenched baseline duels before Stosur finally snuffs out Sharapova.

  15. Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    "There was a big "Come on!" from coach Sven, up on his feet, fist pumping, after Sharapova held on in that last lengthy service game. She's dominant when she gets her first serve in, but otherwise it's a 50/50 match. Exactly the kind that the five-time Grand Slam champion usually finds a way to win."

  16. Maria SharapovaGetty Images

    Deep breath. Hair tuck. Body sway. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Stare down court and then...

    Maria Sharapova sticks to her pre-serve routine as the wind ruffles her hair and rumples her hemline. The elements are doing their best, but the Russian still is keeping the lid on her gremlins.

    A solid service hold.

  17. Sam Stosur drags her service game through some heavy fire off the Maria Sharapova racquet.

    The wind is still whipping around. Not quite getting the dust devils just yet, but not far off.

    Maria Sharapova has to serve from the more exposed northern end of the court next. She won't be looking forward to doing so.

  18. Game, set and match

    WawrinkaReuters

    Eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland is through in convincing style, beating American Steve Johnson 6-4 6-3 6-2.

  19. Game point for Maria Sharapova and the Russian attempts a little tickled drop-shot to close it out.

    The net swallows it up. It looks cute as a button when it comes off, but when that shot goes awry you just want to uppercut your own chin for being so stupid.

    It looks like being even more sickening for Sharapova as Stosur works up a break point, but the Australian is just wide with a fizzing forehand that had Sharapova stretching and moon-balling in desperation.

    The unpire is out of his chair to look at the mark, Stosur is peering over the net. Everyone is in agreement though.

    A big moment - certainly in the game, probably in the match - is amplified as Sharapova makes good her escape.

  20. Andy MurrayGetty Images

    Amelie Mauresmo is issuing the orders over on the Roland Garros practice courts with Andy Murray taking note.

    This is Mauresmo's home turf. Murray's popularity with the French Open crowd will have risen several percentage points just thanks to having the former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion in his team.