Sharapova reaches last 16 at French Open

Top seed Maria Sharapova reached the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday by defeating Karin Knapp of Italy 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.

As in the first two rounds though it was painful progress for the world No.1 whose power game and flat-hitting is ill-suited to the rigours of claycourt tennis.

Knapp, who reached her first WTA final in Antwerp in February, stayed the course in the first set until 3-3 before Sharapova grabbed the first break of the match.

The Russian though was misfiring on her own serve and she allowed Knapp to level the set at 5-5 and then force a tie-break.

Knapp had an early mini-break in that to lead 2-1 but four points in a row from Sharapova turned the tables and she was relieved to win it 7/4 smacking a crosscourt backhand winner on set point.

The world No.1 won a marathon second game of the second set with another backhand winner to break serve and jump out into a 3-0 lead that she never looked like letting slip.

But she will have to add more consistency to her game before going up against compatriot Dinara Safina with a quarter-final place at stake. The pair have met five times with Sharapova winning three.