Sharapova battles on

Sharapova: Safina up next

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Maria Sharapova reached the last 16 of the French Open with a 7-6 6-0 victory over Italian Karin Knapp, although it was another less than impressive display by the top seed.

The Russian three-time Grand Slam winner struggled in the first set, breaking serve at 3-3 but then losing her own delivery and heading into a tie-break.

Knapp had an early mini-break in that to lead 2-1, but four points in a row from Sharapova turned the tables and she won it 7-4 with a backhand winner.

The key point in the second set was a marathon 14-minute second game which Sharapova claimed and that seemed to break the 32nd-seed's resistance as she failed to win another game.

"It feels good fo finish it off in two sets. I had to overturn the situation and take my chances," Sharapova said in a courtside interview after completing the win in an hour and 58 minutes.

"I guess you just hang in there and you keep trying to do the right things. I've been really hesitant the last few days, not really being aggressive enough and playing my game.

"I spent a lot more time than I would have liked on court. I feel I've been lucky to get through the first two matches.

"But I did what I had to do and today was definitely a step up. That's good to

see."

Sharapova will face fellow Russian Dinara Safin in the last 16, against whom she enjoys a 3-2 career record.

Wrapped-up

Meanwhile, Jelena Jankovic quickly wrapped up victory when her third-round match resumed on Saturday.

The third seed had led Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 4-2 when play was halted on Friday evening due to fading light in Paris.

But when the players returned to Court One at Roland Garros in brighter conditions, it took Jankovic around 10 minutes to complete her 7-5 6-3 win.

Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was in ruthless mood as she disposed of fellow Russian Nadia Petrova with the loss of just three games.

Kuznetsova, the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2006, was highly impressive in her 69-minute, 6-2 6-1 victory over the 25th seed on Philippe Chatrier court.