FO day 7: Williams and Sharapova win to set up an exciting matchup in the fourth round

Rafael Nadal was in cruise control against Richard Gasquet, while Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are set for a showdown. 

Serena Williams was broken in the first game of her match against Germany’s Julia Georges, but quickly regained form to win 6-3, 6-4.

Maria Sharapova eased through her match against world No. 6 Karolina Pliskova in just under an hour, 6-2, 6-1.

Now the two rivals are due to face each other for the first time since the 2016 Australian Open, right before Serena took time off to have a baby. The AO is the last Grand Slam the American legend and new mom won, defeating the Russian for the 19th time along the way. The 2016 Slam was also where Ms. Sharapova tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and was subsequently banned from the game for 15 months.

But don’t assume it will be a slam dunk for the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Sharapova has been playing steady since coming back last year and just beat the world No. 6. She’s also had a more successful clay season than the 36-year-old and is hungry to justify her comeback from doping. Even the American gives her the better odds.

“Quite frankly, she’s probably a favorite in this match, for sure,” Williams said according to the Associated Press. “You know, she’s been playing for over a year now. I just started. So, I’m just really trying to get my bearings and trying to feel out where I am and see where I can go.”

But just because the American is ranked No. 451 and unseeded at Roland Garros doesn’t mean she’s not the one to watch this tournament. She’s been having her most successful run at the French Slam since coming back from family leave. She’s won at Roland Garros three times. Sharapova has claimed the title twice. Their matchup on Monday will be one of most anticipated clashes of the tournament.

On the men’s side, John Isner is now the only American male left in the draw, having dismantled home favorite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(4), who was the last Frenchman left in the draw. Isner now faces another big server, 6-foot-6 gentle giant Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas in three easier sets, 7-5, 6-4, 6-1.

Rafael Nadal one of the few players on French soil who can count on home support when facing a native, and looked ready for an incredible 11th FO crown, defeating Richard Gasquet for the 16th time in three sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

The “lucky loser” from Estonia, Jurgen Zopp’s house money ran out as he lost to world No. 67 from Germany, Maximilian Martimer, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

David Goffin finished his match with French showman Gael Monfils in five tough sets, looking the more collected as Monfils had words with the chair umpire in between points, 6-7(6), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The progress to the fourth round is an excellent boost for the talented Belgian clay court player, who had put in a fantastic clay court season last year, only to be halted at the French Open by an unfortunate freak accident. His luck seems better this year.

On the women’s side, Petra Kvitova’s Cinderella run at the clay Slam came to a crashing halt by the Estonian Annet Kontaveit, going out in two tight sets 6-7(6), 6-7(4). The knife attack victim is expected to build on her clay success, however, into grass season, where she’s achieved two Wimbledon titles.

Defending Wimbledon champ Garbine Muguruza is continuing her smooth run with another easy win over Sam Stosur, 6-0, 6-2, and continues to look like a top contender for a title she won in Paris in 2016.

Sloane Stephens is the third American woman left in the draw — in addition to Williams and Madison Keys — but had to go the distance in three sets to beat Italian talent Camila Giorgi, 4-6, 6-1, 8-6. She will face Kvitova’s ouster, Kontaveit, in the fourth round on Sunday.

Other wins for the women included:

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) defeated [19] Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-2, 6-4

[16] Elise Mertens (GER) defeated Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 6-3, 6-1

[1] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Andrea Petkovic (GER) 7-5 6-2

[7] Caroline Garcia (FRA) defeated Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) 6-1 6-3

[12] Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated [18] Kiki Bertens (NED) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4)

The men’s third round matches concluded the following wins:

[3] Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated Steve Johnson (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

[11] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) defeated Borna Coric (CRO) 7-5, 6-3, 6-3

[6] Kevin Anderson (SOA) defeated Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(4)

[18] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated Kyle Edmund (ENG) 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Fourth round matches get underway on Sunday on the Tennis Channel (live until 12, noon), and then over on NBC from 12, noon, until 3:00 p. m.