Safin, Sharapova lead Russian charge, Henin-Hardenne through

Two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin and Wimbledon winner Maria Sharavopa led the Russian charge into the last 16 Saturday at the French Open.

Third seed Safin saw off his old friend Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6(7-5), 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-2) to level their head-to-head record at 5- 5 after the marathon match lasting three hours 46 minutes underthe scorching afternoon sun on Court Philippe Chartrier.

The full-capacity spectators of over 15,000 were well entertained by the two 25-year-old players, knowing each other since they were 14 with a match filled with long-time baseline dueling and delicate volleys as well as disputes.

Safin fired 13 aces compared to 2003 French Open champion Ferrero's one but he also made 60 unforced errors, 22 more than those of the Spanish.

Second seed Sharapova, in her quest for a second Grand Slam title, brushed aside fellow countrywoman Anna Chakvetadze 6-1, 6-4in the third round while sixth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova, seeded seventh, also made successful progress.

Former French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame an error-strewn start to edge unseeded Spanish Anabel Medina Garrigues 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the claycourt showpiece event.

The 18-year-old Sharapova was met with a little trouble in fending off two games points before taking her service game on thesecond game point at the start of the first set.

But Siberian was soon to find her rhythm as she raced to break her 56th-ranked opponent in the second and fourth games.

Sharapova broke Chakvetadze, also at 18, in the opening game and the second set went with serve until she served out to win the match.

2003 winner Henin had a shaky start, making five double faults and 22 unforced errors in the first set before losing 6-4 under the blazing mid-afternoon sun on Court One.

Tenth seed Henin set up a fourth round clash against 19-year-old Kuznetsova on Sunday. The U.S. Open winner sent American Marissa Irin packing, winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-0.

Medina Garrigues, fresh from Strasbourg win, would not be so frustrated as she created her best result here by entering the third round in her four appearances.

Henin was handed an early exit here last year when she lost to Italian Tathiana Garbin in the second round. She didn't play due to the viral illness until Athens Olympic Games but was forced to be sidelined because of a right knee fracture suffered during practice session in December, 2004.

Petrova recorded an easy win over Israel's Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-1while another Russian player 12th-seeded Elena Bovina stopped French sweetheart Tatiana Golovin, seeded 17th, 6-3, 7-5.

Nikolay Davydenko (12) was added to the Russian legion after heblew away German 21st seed Tommy Hass 7-5, 6-0, 6-0.

Host player and women's third seed Amelie Mauresmo was stunned by Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Montenegro 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Last year's runner-up Guillermo Coria of Argentina stormed pastAustrian Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2).

Source: Xinhua