Where are they Now - Björn Borg

Borg at Wimbledon

Before he was 21, Bjorn Rune Borg had registered feats that would set him apart as one of the game's greats - and before he was 26, the head-banded, golden-locked Swede was through. No male career of the modern era has been so brief and bright. Tennis is filled with instances of precocious achievements and championships, but none is quite as impressive as those of the seemingly emotionless Borg. Just before his 18th birthday he was the youngest winner of the Italian Championship, and two weeks later he was the youngest winner of the French Championship (a record lowered by Mats Wilander, 17, in 1982, and subsequently by Michael Chang, a younger 17 in 1989).

Eighteen months later, at 19, he climaxed a Davis Cup-record winning streak of 19 singles by lifting Sweden to the 1975 Cup for the first time in a 3-2 final-round victory over Czechoslovakia. His Cup singles streak of 33 was intact at his retirement, still a record. Although Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall were a few months younger in 1953 when they won the Davis Cup for Australia, both were beaten during the final round. But Borg won both his singles in straight sets, over Jiri Hrebec and the clincher over Jan Kodes, after teaming with Ove Bengtson for the doubles win. Borg's Davis Cup debut at 16 in 1972, as one of the youngest ever in that competition, was phenomenal: A five-set win over seasoned pro Onny Parun of New Zealand. Borg was also the youngest winner of the oldest professional championship, the U.S. Pro, whose singles he took in 1974 at 18 over Tom Okker (and, subsequently, 1975 and 1976). Aaron Krickstein, 16, lowered that record in 1984.

A player of great strength and endurance, he had a distinctive and unorthodox style and appearance, bow-legged, yet very fast. His muscular shoulders and well-developed torso gave him the strength to lash at the ball with heavy topspin on both forehand and backhand. A right-hander, he used a two-handed backhand, adapted from the slap shot in hockey, a game he favoured as a child. By the time he was 13 he was beating the best of Sweden's under-18 players and Davis Cup captain Lennart Bergelin cautioned against anyone trying to change Borg's rough-looking, jerky strokes. They were effective. Through 1977 he had never lost to a player younger than himself.

Born June 6, 1956, in Sodertalje, Sweden, where he grew up, Bjorn was fascinated by a tennis racket his father had won as a prize in a ping-pong tournament. His father gave him the racket and that was the start. Borg preferred to battle from the baseline, trading groundstrokes tirelessly in long rallies, retrieving and waiting patiently to outlast his opponent. Volleying, with his Western grip forehand and two-fisted backhand, was troublesome, and his serve was not impressive at first. He didn't do much on grass until 1976, when he was determined to win Wimbledon, and did so after devoting himself to two weeks of solid practice on serve-and-volley tactics. He won the most important tournament without loss of a set, beating favoured Ilie Nastase in the final, 6-4, 6-2, 9-7. Borg was the youngest champion of the modern era at 20 years, one month, (until Boris Becker, 17, won in 1985).

Borg repeated in 1977, although the tournament was more demanding. His thrilling five-set victories over Americans Vitas Gerulaitis in the semi-finals, and Jimmy Connors in the final were considered two of the best ever played at Wimbledon. By that time Borg had more confidence and proficiency in his volleying. Borg repeated over Connors in 1978, overpoweringly, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, becoming the first to win three successive years since Fred Perry (1934-36). He made it four in a row with a five-set triumph over American Roscoe Tanner in the 1979 final, thus becoming the first player since Tony Wilding (1910-13) to win four straight years. His fifth straight Wimbledon championship, in 1980, climaxed with an all-time great final, a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16-18), 8-6 triumph over John McEnroe. During one of the most electrifying passages in tennis history; the 34-point tie-breaker, Borg was stymied on five match points and saved six set points before giving way. But his famous resolve brought him through in the brilliantly battled fifth.

Borg was now flirting with the ancient Wimbledon record of six straight titles. That was the much less demanding feat of Willie Renshaw (1881-86), who, in the era of the challenge-round format, needed to play only one match to win each of his last five titles. Thus his match-winning streak was only 13. While winning 1980, Borg also surpassed Rod Laver's Wimbledon male match winning-streak record of 31. Bjorn built that to his own record 41 (Helen Wills Moody won 50 straight between 1927 and 1938) by reaching the 1981 final. There he was finally dethroned by McEnroe, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

When he won his male record sixth French title in 1981, with another record, his 28th straight match win, over Ivan Lendl, it seemed that Borg, then 25, would surely surpass Roy Emerson's male record of 12 major singles titles (subsequently surpassed by Pete Sampras,14 and Roger Federer, 15). Borg had 11. But he would not win another, remaining tied with Laver. His left-handed nemesis, McEnroe, followed up on Wimbledon by beating Borg in a second successive U.S. Open final to take over the No. 1 ranking that the Swede had held in 1979 and 1980. That defeat, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4,6-3, effectively ended Borg's career. He won only two more matches, reaching the quarters of Monte Carlo in 1982.

Shortly after that he retired, having won 62 singles (of 88 finals) and four pro career doubles titles, including the Masters of 1979-80, and $3,655,751. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Nevertheless, he did try comebacks in 1991, 1992 and 1993, all unsuccessful. The balletic footwork and marvellous anticipation couldn't be coaxed to return with him, even though others had stayed afloat and earning at 35. He lost eight first-rounders in 1992, three in 1993. Bjorn's parting shot, in Moscow's Kremlin Cup, was as close as he got, holding a match point in a farewell tie-breaker while losing to Alexander Volkov, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9-7). Thereafter he confined himself to senior events, renewing his rivalry with Connors, against whom he had been 10-7. He was 7-7 lifetime against McEnroe. The U.S. Open was his particular jinx. He failed to win in 10 tries, losing four finals, 1976 and 1978 to Connors, and 1980 and 1981 to McEnroe. Thrice (1978-79-80) he was halfway to a Grand Slam after victories at the French and Wimbledon only to falter at the three-quarter pole at Flushing Meadow. His career singles win-loss record was 606-123 (.831).


Borg now runs his own apparel company www.bjornborg.com

MAJOR TITLES (11) - French singles, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979,1980, 1981; Wimbledon singles, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980.

DAVIS CUP - 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980; record: 37-3 in singles, 8-8 in doubles.

SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS - Australian (1-1), French (49-2), Wimbledon (51-4), US.(40-10).

Nadal Number Nine in Paris

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Rafael Nadal has conquered Roland Garros for a ninth time after coming from a set down to beat Novak Djokovic 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4 in Sunday's final.

The undisputed 'King of Clay' has now won the French Grand Slam in five successive years and the victory brought him his 14th Grand Slam crown, equal second on the all-time list alongside Pete Sampras and three behind leader Roger Federer.

The loss meant that Djokovic failed in his bid to become the eighth man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles.

After the two men shared two brutally tough opening sets under a hot sun, Djokovic visibly wilted under Nadal's weight of shot in the third before the Spaniard won in four, taking his match record at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005 to 66 wins against just the one loss, becoming the first man in history to win a major tournament 10 years in a row.

The top two players in the world were meeting for the 42nd time, more than any other two men in the Open era.

Djokovic's game matches up better against Nadal than anyone else's and it was he who struck first with a break for 5-3.

Nadal saved two break points, the first with a trademark curling forehand on to the line, but Djokovic showed his forehand down the line was pretty good, too, to bring up a third chance and this time his opponent just missed with an off forehand.

It was the first time Djokovic had won the opening set against Nadal at Roland Garros and the first time since 2006 the Spaniard had lost the opener in the final.

This has been Nadal's least dominant season on clay, the 28-year-old losing three matches in the build-up to the French Open for the first time in a decade.

Nadal hit back in the second set with a break for 4-2 but the world No 1 then handed the initiative right back with another wayward forehand.

He had a chance to make it three breaks in a row only to miscue a backhand, but when two set points arrived in the 12th game, Nadal took the first with a forehand winner, leaping and punching the air with delight.

The start of the third set was huge for Djokovic but he could not stop Nadal's momentum, netting a routine backhand volley to trail 2-0, and the Serbian began to look very weary in the heat.

He rallied and forced break points in the fifth and seventh games but Nadal held on and then broke once more to take the set when Djokovic drove a forehand long.

Djokovic had lost the third set easily in last year's semi-final before fighting back but he did not look like he had too much left.

And Nadal moved closer to the title with a break for 4-2 when Djokovic pulled a backhand wide trying desperately to send the ball beyond the reach of his opponent.

But just when his chances looked to be over, Djokovic hit back, a pinpoint return forcing Nadal into the error.

The Serbian pressed hard for another break but Nadal held on, beating his chest as he moved to within one game of victory.

And that was all he needed, Djokovic placing a forehand long to give up a match point and then serving a double fault after three hours and 31 minutes, just as he had in losing his first French Open final to Nadal two years ago.

"Congratulations to Rafa and his team, it is incredible to win this tournament nine times," Djokovic said.

"It was an emotional day. I have tried with all my power, my strength, my capacities but Rafa was the strongest on court.

"To my team: this trophy is not for us this year but we will try again and again."

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Bonjour for Maria Sharapova

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Maria Sharapova won her second French Open title in three years, overcoming some shaky serving Saturday to beat fourth-seeded Simona Halep 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in the final.

Sharapova has struggled with her serve this week and had 12 double-faults in the final on Court Philippe Chatrier. But she was able to hold off Halep, and hold her serve in the final game, with steady groundstrokes that kept the Romanian on the run.

Sharapova also won the title at Roland Garros in 2012, completing a career Grand Slam. She lost in last year's final to Serena Williams.

Halep, who was ranked only 57th heading into last year's French Open, was playing in her first major final.

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Magnificent Seven for Rafa in Paris

Rafael Nadal won a record seventh French Open title Monday, returning a day after getting rained out to put the finishing touches on a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic.

He denied Djokovic in his own run at history -- the quest for the "Novak Slam."

The match ended on Djokovic's double-fault, a fittingly awkward conclusion to a final that had plenty of stops and starts, including a brief delay during the fourth set Monday while -- what else? -- a rain shower passed over the stadium.

They waited it out and Nadal wound up as he has for seven of the past eight years: down on the ground, celebrating a title at a place that feels like a home away from home for the second-seeded Spaniard. He broke the record he shared with Bjorn Borg, improved to 52-1 at the French Open and beat the man who had defeated him in the last three Grand Slam finals.

"This tournament is, for me, the most special tournament of the world," Nadal said.

After serving his fourth double-fault of the match, the top-seeded Djokovic dropped his head, slumped his shoulders and walked slowly toward the net -- an emotional two-day adventure complete, and not with the result he wanted.

He was trying to become the first man since Rod Laver, 43 years ago, to win four straight major titles. He came up short just as Roger Federer twice did in seeking four in a row -- his pursuit also halted by Nadal at Roland Garros in 2006 and 2007.

"It was a very difficult match against the best player in the world," Nadal said. "I lost three Grand Slam finals -- Wimbledon, the U.S. Open last year, and the Australian Open this year. I'm very happy, very emotional."

Nadal won his 11th overall Grand Slam title, tying him with Borg and Laver for fourth among the all-time leaders.

Next up on Nadal's list: Chris Evert? Yes. Before Monday, Evert was the only player, man or woman, to win seven titles at Roland Garros, and Nadal would break that record next if he wins No. 8.

"He's definitely the best player in history on this surface and the results are showing that he's one of the best-ever players to play this game," Djokovic said.

A match with so much of tennis history riding on it proved awkward and frustrating for both players.

Unable to solve Nadal's mastery of the clay, Djokovic was throwing rackets around early in the final. A bit later on Sunday, Nadal was complaining bitterly as the rain picked up, the tennis balls got heavy and officials refused to stop the match.

Djokovic rolled through the third set as the rain turned the heavy red clay into more of a muddy paste. He had all the momentum when play was halted, up a break early in the fourth. The weather cleared well before dusk Sunday and Djokovic said he was sitting around the locker room, ready to play.

But officials decided to call it a washout, setting up the first non-Sunday finish at the French Open since 1973, when Ilie Nastase wrapped up his title on a Tuesday.

"I said, 'Good, we've had some luck. If we hadn't stopped, we were going home,' " said Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal. "Because Rafael was a bit blocked and Djokovic wasn't missing any balls. He was hitting them all well. So we had some luck."

When Nadal and Djokovic came back to Roland Garros on Monday under cloudy skies, they shook hands as they passed each other on the practice court. A bit later, the match resumed. Both the surface on Court Phillippe-Chartier and the tennis balls had dried out, and Nadal looked more like he usually does -- sliding into his stops, spinning his powerful, looping shots, moving Djokovic around, always getting one more ball back.

"I'm not going back, saying it's your fault and your fault because I lost," Djokovic said. "It's unfortunate because I was playing better, feeling better on the court in the third set yesterday. Today, he started strong. I started slower. I was a little bit unfortunate in that first game and things turned around."

On the restart, Nadal broke serve right away to tie the set at 2-2 and the frustrated Djokovic was back -- slamming himself in the head with his racket after missing an easy forehand that gave Nadal the break point.

It was one of 15 unforced errors in the set for Djokovic, who went back to trying to end points early and blunt the huge advantage Nadal has sliding around on clay. When the surface was muddy, the evening before in the third set, Djokovic only made eight unforced errors.

"But I don't find an excuse in that," Djokovic said, speaking of the decision to halt play Sunday night. "The better player won today, so congratulations on that."

Play was nearly stopped with Nadal ahead 5-4 in the fourth, but the players sat under umbrellas for a few minutes while a rain shower passed, then they went back out. Both men held serve and Djokovic needed to hold once more trailing 6-5 to force a tiebreaker.

Nadal hit a big forehand winner to set up match point, and Djokovic, who had saved four of those in a quarterfinal win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, had no more magic. He double-faulted and dropped to 0-4 against Nadal at the French Open.

Nadal fell to his knees and buried his head in his hands, then clambered into the stands to hug his family.

Men's Final Delayed until Monday

The French Open men's final between Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic was suspended due to rain on Sunday evening.

Nadal was leading 6-4 6-3 2-6 1-2* when the match referee called the players off court at 5:51pm (6:51pm local time). The players were also off court for 35 minutes during the second set.

Victory for Nadal would make him the first man to win seven titles in Paris, one more than Bjorn Borg, while Djokovic could emulate Rod Laver and Don Budge by holding all four grand slam titles at once.

But it was the 26-year-old Spaniard who started on the front foot on his favourite surface by taking the opening two sets against the frustrated Serb.

Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set with two breaks of serve as his forehand pierced holes in Djokovic's defensive armour.

However, Djokovic, 25, fought back with a double break of his own to level the match at 3-3.

The slow conditions were certainly playing a part in all the breaks of serve, and there was another as Nadal moved ahead again at 4-3, and he maintained his advantage, clinching the set with a vicious forehand winner.

The top seed was showing his frustration in the second set when he whacked his bench with his racquet causing splinters to fly across the court, after Nadal made a decisive move by breaking for 4-3. That cost him an official warning.

And it took the left-handed Mallorcan just a couple more minutes to move two sets ahead with a a trademark backhand pass earning him a sixth break of the Djokovic serve.

However, Djokovic boke the Nadal serve not once but twice to lead 3-2 at the start of the third set and the Serb suddenly found a way to win the long points.

Remarkably he made it six games in a row to win the set 6-2 and he immediately broke at the start of the fourth to give himself more than a glimmer of a chance of a momentous victory.

But with Nadal trtailing 2-1 the rain came down again and after a frustrating wait, the tournament referee declared play over for the day. The players will resume at 1pm local time on Monday.

The last time the men's final was not completed on Sunday was in 1973, when bad weather did not allow for the showpiece match to be completed until Tuesday.

Paris Makes it Grand Slam Maria

PH

Photo: Getty Images

Maria Sharapova crushed Sara Errani 6-3 6-2 in the final of the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

The Russian took ruthless advantage of a nervy and error-strewn performance from the 21st seed playing in her first Grand Slam final.

Sharapova - whose run to the final took her back to the top of the world rankings - becomes the 10th woman to win the full set of all four Grand Slam titles that seemed so unlikely after several injury-plagued years.

The six foot two inch Sharapova stormed into a 4-0 lead in the first set in just 15 minutes.

Errani, looking to emulate compatriot Francesca Schiavone who won the 2010 title, was clearly struck by stagefright on her Grand Slam final debut.

But she clawed her way onto the scoreboard to get to 2-4, before the more composed Russian went to 5-2.

And although the tough Italian saved two set points in the eighth game, a big backhand down the line secured the opener for Sharapova at 6-3.

Errani hit just three winners to Sharapova's 12 in the first set and despite knocking out former champions Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova on her way to the final, she was being overpowered.

Errani, 10 days younger than her opponent, bravely stopped the rot, mixing up her game to retrieve a break before handing it straight back to the iron-willed Sharapova for 5-2.

The the 25-year-old Sharapova saw two match points saved by a pair of exquisite Errani drop shots.

But victory was hers when Errani netted a return, ending the 90-minute final.

The newly crowned world number one added the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen to her triumphs at Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the 2008 Australian Open.

No Final for Ferrer as Nadal Destroys

Defending champion Rafael Nadal reached a record seventh French Open final by destroying David Ferrer 6-2 6-2 6-1.

The second seed saved two early break points to win five games in succession and take the first set in 39 minutes.

Nadal continued the onslaught either side of a break for rain and hit some sparkling shots to move two sets up after an hour and 15 minutes on court.

The ruthlessness continued as Nadal broke for a third time in the third set to win in an hour and 46 minutes.

"Today was my best match of the tournament, against the best player I've faced here so far," said Nadal, who will meet Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in Sunday's showpiece.

"It is a very important victory for me - to win with this result against one of the best players of moment, and the world.

"I don't believe in perfection, it doesn't exist in my opinion, you can play always better. But I'm very happy with the way I'm playing."

It will be Nadal's fifth consecutive Grand Slam final and the victory extended his phenomenal record at Roland Garros to 51 wins from 52 matches, his only defeat against Robin Soderling in 2009.

Having beaten one record he shared with the legendary Bjorn Borg - the number of French Open finals - the 26-year-old now has the chance to eclipse him again by becoming the first player in the Open era to win the title seven times.

The French crowd arrived for the 13:00 local time start at a leisurely pace and Nadal was also a shade slower out of the blocks than usual as the bustling Ferrer comfortably held his first two service games, then created two break point opportunities in the fourth.

Nadal, utilising his customary quick feet to unleash his whirling forehand whenever possible, duly responded by forcing some Ferrer errors and breaking to love in the next.

The wind was blowing clay particles off the court and Nadal soon began to do the same to Ferrer, breaking to love again and winning 18 out of 20 points in taking the first set.

Nadal even managed to win a point whilst sitting on the clay having slipped, which led to a break in the third game of the second set.

He broke again to lead 4-1 and the only halt to his march into the final came from the elements as heavy rain resulted in a 55-minute delay on the Court Philippe Chatrier.

The rain gave way to clear skies and Nadal unveiled more classic strokes from his repertoire, a dexterous overhead backhand smash swiftly followed by a running forehand down the line as the second set was sealed in 36 minutes.

Ferrer had often outclassed British number one Andy Murray in their quarter-final but could find no answer to the supreme nature of Nadal's strokeplay.

The 30-year-old's only win in 13 previous matches on clay against Nadal came in their first meeting, a 2004 encounter in Stuttgart.

His chances of improving that statistic receded further when Nadal quickly moved 2-0 ahead in the third set.

The six-time champion proved his backhand was just as fearsome as he recorded two more breaks and wrapped up his 39th victory in 43 matches this year.

"He plays better than me all the time," said Ferrer. "It's difficult to say something, no? He was better, and he had a very good match."

Maria Makes Final and Becomes No 1

Maria Sharapova booked a place in her first French Open final and moved up to world number one by overcoming Petra Kvitova in straight sets in Paris.

Second seed Sharapova produced the more assured play to steer herself to a 6-3 6-3 victory over the fourth seed.

The result also keeps the Russian on course to achieve the career Grand Slam by winning the one major tournament which has eluded her.

Sharapova will play Italian 21st seed Sara Errani in Saturday's final.

The new number one, who will displace Victoria Azarenka on Monday, will be a huge favourite to beat surprise finalist Errani, especially considering the manner of her victory against left hander Kvitova.

Sharapova was contesting her third French Open semi-final and had high hopes of victory at Roland Garros having come into the tournament on the back of clay court wins in Stuttgart and Rome.

The Russian had beaten Kvitova on the way to victory in Stuttgart and, after saving break points in both her opening service games, Sharapova grew in confidence and consistency to break her rival in the fifth game.

Kvitova's power and precision had helped her beat her opponent to claim the Wimbledon title last year but Sharapova had the answer to anything the Czech could throw at her.

The blustery conditions on court Philippe Chatrier were an issue but the Russian dealt with them better.

Some heavy blows were being traded and Sharapova regularly came out on top before going on to win the first set.

Kvitova exerted more pressure on Sharapova early in the second set, although like the opener she failed to take a break point and lost her own serve in the following game to go 3-1 down.

This time around, however, the number four seed broke back to level, although any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished.

Sharapova was controlled and concentrated and again broke her more wayward rival before a second serve ace secured victory.

Ferrer Ends Paris Hopes for Murray

Andy Murray's French Open hopes hit 'The Wall' at the quarter-final stage as he suffered a 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-2 defeat to David Ferrer.

The Spaniard maintained his perfect record against the fourth seed on clay to reach the last four for the first time in Roland Garros - his reward is a showdown with compatriot Rafael Nadal.

For the third time in the tournament this year Murray dropped the opening set, though he responded impressively in the second to level matters.

However, just as he was seemingly getting into his stride, the rain arrived to halt his momentum. After returning to court he lost four games in a row, putting Ferrer in pole position.

Crucially, after breaking serve five times in the match Murray would give it straight back on every occasion, something that he simply couldn't afford to do against an opponent nicknamed 'The Wall' for his non-stop style of play.

The back injury that has bothered him throughout in Paris didn't aid his hopes, there were several grimaces throughout the match, though neither did the fact he wasted break points in the third and seventh games of the opening set.

A further two went begging at 5-3, allowing Ferrer to serve out for a 1-0 lead.

Murray's response was to break immediately at the start of the second and although he quickly lost that advantage, he stood firm to force a tie-break and then stepped up his game just at the right time, winning five points in a row from 1-0 down and eventually taking it 7-3.

The world number four held serve in the opening game of the third set but then the rain really began to come down, forcing the players from the court for around 20 minutes.

From then on, Ferrer was the one in full control. He broke three times on his way to taking the third set, while it was groundhog day at the start of the fourth as Murray played a terrific defensive point to break only to surrender his serve immediately for the fifth time, sending a forehand just wide.

He had two chances to move ahead again but could not take either, and the end looked nigh when he lost a third successive game with another wayward forehand.

Murray had two more break points in the seventh game but couldn't capitalise, ending his run of reaching at least the last four at five consecutive grand slams. It also means the wait for a British winner at a major goes on, with Wimbledon his next attempt to end 76 years of hurt.

Sharapova Steers Paris Course

Maria Sharapova powered to a 6-2 6-3 success over Kaia Kanepi to move just one win away from a first French Open final.

The Russian won five successive games in the second set as she turned the screw on her opponent in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

The second seed and title favourite is looking to complete her set of grand slam titles and go one better than last year, when she lost to eventual champion Li Na in the last four.

Sharapova had struggled in the wind against Klara Zakopalova in the previous round, dropping her first set of the tournament.

There had been a remarkable 21 breaks of serve in that match and - in similar and breezy and cool conditions - it looked like the same could happen again when all of the first three games went against serve.

But Sharapova looked much more secure, powering groundstrokes, and after she held for 3-1 she wasted little time racing through the rest of the first set.

Kanepi, who ousted former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third round, began the second set brilliantly, winning the first two games.

The Estonian had a chance to go 3-0 up but she could not take it, and from there Sharapova turned the screw, winning five successive games.

Kanepi had one last big effort, breaking the Russian to love when she served for the match, but she could not hold her own serve and a mis-hit backhand sealed her fate.

She will now face either fourth seed Petra Kvitova or Yaroslava Shvedova.

Djokovic Dramatic Victory from Tsongas

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Murray Blows a Gasquet in Paris

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Sharapova Surges Past Shuai

Second seed Maria Sharapova powered past Peng Shuai to reach the last 16 of the French Open.

The Russian won 6-2 6-1 and has dropped only five games in three matches so far, having beaten Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-0 and Ayumi Morita 6-1 6-1 in the previous rounds.

She will now take on Czech Klara Zakopalova, the conqueror of another seeded Russian in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Sharapova, bidding to win her first ever French Open title, made a perfect start on Saturday, converting her second break point in the opening game.

She won again on the Peng serve but the Chinese player immediately clawed back one of the breaks to trail 3-1.

That became 4-2 before an unplayable deep forehand set up the first of two break points for Sharapova as she moved within one game of winning the set at 5-2, then served out for the set.

Even Sharapova's sometimes fragile serve was consistent, with a first-serve percentage of 61% through the match and only one double fault.

She again broke at the first opportunity in the second set and led 4-0 before the 28th seed got a game on the board.

It was her only one, though, with Sharapova closing out a 66-minute victory in ruthless fashion.

The Russian, a semi-finalist last year, and seeking a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, has lost just five games in three rounds.

"I came in knowing that I was facing a tough opponent who has beaten me before and against who I have played three sets," said Sharapova.

"She can really play, hits the ball really well, so I tried to keep her moving, tried to get her on the run."

Wozniacki Slides Out of Roland Garros

Caroline Wozniacki's slide accelerated when she was dumped out of the French Open in the third round by Estonia's Kaia Kanepi after losing her temper over a controversial line call.

The Dane, seeded ninth, slumped to a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 defeat after a controversial line call went against her at 1-1 in the deciding set after she had battled back into the match.

Wozniacki, who finished each of the last two seasons on top of the rankings despite not having captured a grand slam title, had a heated debate with the chair umpire, Poncho Ayala.

"When the ball is clearly out I don't think there should be anything to argue about," she told reporters. "If they cannot see, they should have other umpires on the lines or invent Hawk-Eye on these courts.

"It's a disgrace mistakes like this are made. It wasn't even like it could have been in, could have been out. It was clearly out," said Wozniacki.

"When a ball travels five miles an hour in the third set at 1-1 I think either the linesman or the main umpire should be able to see the ball."

Wozniacki won six titles in each of the 2010 and 2011 seasons but has yet to get off the mark this year.

She recently began working with her new coach, Thomas Johansson, to halt the decline and still believes she can salvage the year.

"I can't really be happy about losing today but it's sport and, at least looking ahead, you have big tournaments coming up, Wimbledon and the Olympics, US Open, so there is still plenty to look forward to," the 21-year-old said.

"I just have to stay positive and in tennis there is always next week. So that's the good thing."

Mahut Makes Federer Fight

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Ivanovic Bows Out of Roland Garros

Former champion Ana Ivanovic bowed out of the French Open at the third-round stage on Friday.

The Serbian, a former world number one, stormed through the first set but hit the self-destruct button to lose 1-6 7-5 6-3 to Sara Errani.

Ivanovic, the winner at Roland Garros in 2008, looked well on course to reach the last 16 when she raced through the opening set in just 25 minutes.

Her winners-to-unforced-errors ratio at that point was an impressive 16-3 but 37 more errors would follow in the next two sets.

Errani dug in to stay with her opponent at the start of the second and then struck at the business end of the set.

Having levelled affairs, the Italian, seeded 21, always looked the more likely winner in the decider as Ivanovic sprayed the ball out and into the net with alarming frequency.

Errani will next meet either third seed Agnieszka Radwanska or another former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova on Sunday.