TENNIS in DEPTH.

Maria Sharapova continued her impressive form at the French Open as she booked her place in the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Agnieszka Radwanska. The Russian saw off the world number 12 7-6 (7/4) 7-5 on Philippe Chatrier and had to come through the sort of test that will stand her title bid in good stead. She was on the verge of being taken into a third set when she faced up to five set points, only to come back and take the match. The first set was a stern examination for her too, having fallen 4-1 behind early on, with the unforced error count 10-0 against her at that point. But she pulled things back to 4-4 and then won the first set on a tie-break courtesy of a mini-break on the fourth point. There were three breaks of serve in the second set, but crucially Sharapova prevented a fourth when she trailed 4-5, seeing off five set points to keep herself in the set. She then took complete control to set up a tie with Andrea Petkovic.

Victoria Azarenka continued to avoid the clatter of seeds in the women’s draw at the French Open as she eased through to the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova. The fourth seed was the favourite for the title before the tournament started despite never previously having been past the last eight at a grand slam, and she is the highest-ranked player left after early exits for Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva. Azarenka did not have things all her own way against Makarova and was twice a break down early in the second set, but the Russian struggled to hold her serve and in the end had no answer to her opponent’s power.

Azarenka will now play Li Na, who won six games in a row in a 2-6 6-1 6-3 victory that ended the hopes of ninth seed and dark horse Petra Kvitova.

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