TENNIS in DEPTH.

Justine Henin fought off a resurgent Maria Sharapova to reach the fourth round and stay on course for a fifth French Open title. It was Sharapova who took control of the 3rd set going up 2-0 and with 3 game points for a 3-0 edge, but failed to convert. This was the best match that Maria has played since her long lay-off, and it must put her among the favourites going into Wimbledon next month.

The Belgian took the final set when the match resumed on Sunday to win 6-2 3-6 6-3 after play had stopped the previous night with the score at one set all.

It takes the 22nd seed through to a fourth-round meeting with Australia’s Sam Stosur and keeps alive her unbeaten six-year stretch at Roland Garros, which includes the last two years when the former world number one did not play because she was in retirement.

Having reached the final of the Australian Open in January, a matter of weeks after ending that 20-month spell out of the game, the four-time French Open champion was widely expected to pick up where she had left off at Roland Garros in 2007, where she completed a hat-trick of wins.

And the 27-year-old had made the better start in cold, damp conditions on Saturday evening, with victory in sight when she led by a set and 3-3, 15-40.

But Sharapova, 23, had been more than holding her own and saw off the danger before finally getting the better of the Henin serve in the next game, having already seen seven break points slip by.

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