French Open: Sunday 25 May to Sunday 8 June
Coverage: BBCi, Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website.
French Open
Fourth round latest:
M SHARAPOVA (Rus) * v D SAFINA (Rus)
4-3
* denotes server Sharapova through to round four ...
Henin 'set to retire from tennis' ...
Henin takes early exit from German Open ...
Sharapova wins after epic battle ...
Sharapova to miss Fed Cup semis ...
LATEST ACTION (all times BST)
To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used) By Tom Fordyce
FIRST SET:
Sharapova 4-3 Safina
Now it's Saffa's turn to struggle on her serve. A double-fault of her own gives Shara a sniff of a chance; a series of pounding forehands leave Safina stranded out wide, and Shara creams a backhand cross-court to snatch the first break. Across the way, Federer's taken the first set against Benneteau - he lost his break at 5-3 but then broke his French opponent back with immediate anger.
Sharapova 3-3 Safina
Super whipped forehand return down the line from Saffa brings up the first break point of the match, only for a lusty backhand long to blow it. A run of double-faults brings another, but this time Saffa goes wide with a forehand and then clatters another out. Missed opportunity. Shara Squeak to poked pig levels.
Sharapova 2-3 Safina
If you've not seen much of Safina before, think a slightly less muscled version of her brother plus pig-tail and you're pretty much there. She conjures up a delightful backhand slice drop-shot at 30-15 and screams with delight as Shara sprawls.
Sharapova 2-2 Safina
Quite blustery out there on court at the moment, with occasional swirls of red dust in the style of a frontier town in the Wild West. Sharp-shooter Shara narrows her eyes and fires down four more solid serves to blow Saffa away. Yet to drop a point on her serve, Maria.
Sharapova 1-2 Safina
Mirror image for Saffa - crunching serves and an ace down the middle to seal the deal. Just two points won against the serve so far. Shara Squeak to squashed mouse levels.
Sharapova 1-1 Safina
Easy hold to love for Shara - efficiency personified. On Court Philippe Chatrier, Roger Federer is a break up early on against Julien Benneteau.
Sharapova 0-1 Safina
Shara winds up a series of crunching forehands off Saffa's serve, but a fine stretching forehand volley at the net and a final ace gets Dinara's serve off to a winning start. The Shara Squeak merely at angry mouse levels so far.
1220: Shara's warming up in her navy mini-dress and sun-visor. Understated look, you'd have to say. Saffa's in a white vest-top and white skirt with pale blue edging. The stands are no more than half-full, but it's early doors.
1215: Afternoon, and welcome to an intriguing little battle on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Sharapova's a marginal favourite with the bookies but she's been as impressive as a stale baguette so far. Safina hasn't yet scaled the same peaks as big bro Marat but she's more than just a dangerous floater.
(BBC)
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