Maria Sharapova beats Sam Stosur 6-3 6-4
Defending champion into 4th round
Sharapova to face Safarova in last 16
Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra
"We billed this as our match of the day but it doesn't always turn out that way. There's still time for this to become a gripping, high-quality match, even if the wind is making things difficult."
Image source, ReutersMaria Sharapova gets a return right up under Sam Stosur's grill. The Aussie drifts long as she is forced into an awkward, stunted stroke and Sharapova has a look at 30-30.
Stosur gets lucky as - with the court gaping like Shane McGowan's dental work - Sharapova misses a great chance on break point.
Nice hands from Stosur and as she smothers a forehand on the strings for a winning drop volley.
Something a little less subtle closes out the game, another of those bazooka serves out wide.
Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra
"It's not always easy watching Sharapova in the early rounds at Roland Garros but her record here is the best of all active players on the women's tour."
Image source, AFPSam Stosur hustles like a back-street card sharp to see off one set point at 40-30, snapping away when Maria Sharapova strays from a perfect length and finishing with a clout down the line.
But she cannot hold back the Russian a second time.
A ram-rod straight serve down the tee has Stosur in trouble straight away and a scrambling backhand into the net signals the demise of her hopes of keeping the set alive.
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Neither woman looks too convincing on serve so far, with Sharapova already up to five double faults.
"The Russian experienced one of her worst days on this court in 2011 when, finally closing in on the one major title that had eluded her, she faced Li Na in the semi-finals. On a similarly windy day, her serve completely disintegrated and she finished the match with her 10th double fault. That number looks distinctly possible today."
There is not a lot of bulk on those limbs, but Maria Sharapova arms are such long levers that she generates a power that can catch opponents flat-footed.
A dense, compact little backhand jab scuttles away for a winner and 15-40, before she clatters a great forehand return cross court and out of reach to move within a service hold of the first set.
Breaks aplenty, but is has been entertainingly open match rather than a depressingly dismal standard of tennis.
Whomph!
Sam Stosur slaps a big wet forehand right across the chops of Maria Sharapova to take herself to 30-40 and break point.
All the rest of the damage to Maria Sharapova's serve was self-inflicted though with three double faults gifting Sam Stosur the rest of the points she needs to get the opening set back on serve.
Sharapova's service action can get yippy and this blustery wind will get those doubts stewing nicely.
Image source, ReutersSam Stosur in an immediate bit of bother with a double fault that gives Maria Sharapova 0-30 and a line of sight right into the heart of her service game.
Back battles Sam Stosur, planting her feet wide and flinging fierce forehands, to earn 30-30.
The Australian faces down a break point with a serve that kicks high, wide and out of the reach of even 6ft 2in Sharapova.
Sharapova pounces and punches away a mid-court ball for another crack at the Stosur serve and this time Stosur can't rescue herself.
She biffs a forehand long and Sharapova is sharpen her scalpel to amputate this first set from Stosur's grasp.
Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra
"I think there's a chance of surprise winner in the women's tournament this year. Serena Williams looked desperately unconvincing yesterday, Sharapova should feel good about her chances, but we've lost Halep already, and Kvitova looks shaky."
And Maria Sharapova backs up the break-back with a hold of her own.
The players take a seat with the first set on serve. But this has all the signs of being the ding-donging slug-fest we expected.
Maria Sharapova is immediately turning the thumb-screws. 0-30. Stosur nibbles one back, but the pressure - both sporting and atmospheric - play havoc with her ball toss as it gets gusty and she double faults to offer up two break points.
One back in the bag as Stosur creeps forward behind a barrage of spitting forehands.
Sharapova's grunt is creeping up in pitch and duration to a pained yelp, but the backhand slice, deep and spinning, is naggingly consistent.
Eventually Stosur pushes too hard and Sharapova grips a fist in celebration as the ball flies long.
Paul Newman
Tennis correspondent for the Independent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
"It's very breezy and the wind can swirl around this court. It could be a problem for both players."
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Team Sharapova, led by coach Sven Groeneveld, is playing to the crowd this year with matching hats coloured the brickdust red that symbolises Roland Garros.
"They have been christened 'the UN peacekeepers' in the past for their tendency to sport blue caps. Sven takes a big old slug of water after his boss gets broken to love. Long way to go yet."
Image source, ReutersGird your loins, don your tin hats, and take cover.
Things are about to get nasty.
Sam Stosur breaks to love. It has her ahead on the scoreboard, but she might just have tugged the Rottweiler's tail.
Sam Stosur is sporting neon green and gold with day-glo laces in her trainers to set it all of.
Those shoes get an early workout as she scampers to the net. Lovely soft-shoe shuffle and she gets her reward, scooping the ball off the dirt and hammering away Maria Sharapova's attempted lob return.
A commanding first game from the Aussie. Plenty of grunt behind the groundies and a serve that kicks like an angry mule.
There is a decent breeze swirling around Court Philippe Chatrier. Maria Sharapova has to regather her ball toss a couple of times and the flags on the top of the stands are tugging at the pole.
Sam Stosur did enough in that opening game to suggest she could throw a spanner in the Russian's spokes.
A lovely middled backhand down the line on the opening point had her positively grinning up to her entourage in the players' box.
She has to be content with inflicting just two points damage to the Sharapova serve in the end though.
BBC Sport website
Maria Sharpova has won the toss and opted to serve. She is wearing that jaunty Breton striped top she has been rocking this week, but opted to keep the string of onions back in the locker room.
Live radio commentary of this one is available for your listening pleasure on this very website.
Click away at the top of this page.
Image source, ReutersCzech 13th seed Lucie Safarova awaits the winner of Sharapova v Stosur in the fourth round after she beat perennial Wimbledon latter-stage performer Sabine Lisicki 6-3 7-6 (7-2) earlier today.
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
Image source, Getty Images"As one of those lucky enough to be on a dark and moody Court Suzanne Lenglen when these two met last year, I can vouch for the potential of this afternoon's most tantalising match-up.
"The circumstances are different, with the sun shining on the rather more stately Court Philippe Chatrier, but Stosur is capable of giving the two-time champion another serious test.
"It took all of Sharapova's mighty resolve to haul herself through last year from a precarious position at a set and 3-4 set down. Playing poorly, it says everything about the Russian that she reeled off the last nine games in a row. She would not be denied."
Sharapova won 3-6 6-4 6-0 to make the last eight.
Image source, EPASamantha Stosur is your archetypical tough Aussie cookie though.
The 31-year-old reached the final in 2010 - where she was eventually out-battled by Francesca Schiavone - and also made the last four in 2009 and 2012.
She won the clay-court title in Strasbourg before arriving in Paris this year.
This is not going to be two quick sets crammed inside the hour.