Federer and Sharapova into last 16

Roger Federer

Roger Federer & Maria Sharapova into French Open fourth round

Second seed Roger Federer reached the French Open fourth round for the 11th year in a row with a 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over Damir Dzumhur in Paris.

The Swiss, who won the French Open in 2009, will play either Gael Monfils of France or Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay for a place in the quarter-finals.

Defending women’s champion Maria Sharapova beat Australia’s Sam Stosur 6-3 6-4 to reach the last 16.

Former champion Ana Ivanovic secured a 53-minute 6-0 6-3 win over Donna Vekic.

No end in sight for Federer

With his game in good shape and a relatively good draw, Roger Federer has every reason to be hopeful of adding to his Grand Slam haul next week.

It is three years since he last won a major, when he beat Andy Murray at Wimbledon, but the Swiss does not know himself whether claiming an 18th Slam would extend his career.

“I may stop the following day or I may go for another five years, I don’t know,” said the 33-year-old.

“What I can tell you is that if I win Wimbledon or a Grand Slam, I’ll be very happy, extremely happy. So it won’t make a difference. I don’t know the answer myself.”

Ivanovic gets Bayern backing

Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich watching Ana Ivanovic

Schweinsteiger (left) was part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning team

Ivanovic was the first player of the day back to the locker room, breaking Vekic’s serve five times on the way to victory.

The 27-year-old, who also reached the French Open final in 2007, was cheered on by boyfriend and Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Ivanovic previously dated Australian golfer Adam Scott.

When asked about World Cup winner Schweinsteiger’s support afterwards, Ivanovic played the straightest of bats.

“It’s great having a great team around you and positive people and the support. You know, there is nothing better than that.”

Britwatch

Andy Murray took a break from practising to tell BBC Sport the secret to his 12-match winning streak on clay this year.

“I think just in general, my level’s been better,” he said.

“And then winning my first clay-court tournament in Munich was important for me. That was a change I made in my schedule with my team, and that’s something that I’d never done before.

“I’d never played a 250 event on the clay and that’s been a good decision that’s paid off.”

Meanwhile, brother Jamie progressed to the third round of the doubles with Australian partner John Peers after they saw off Santiago Giraldo and Dusan Lajovic 6-1 6-2.

They are likely to meet the top-seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan in the quarter-finals if they win their next match.

 

BBC Sport

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