Serena Williams sets up Sharapova showdown in Paris

Serena Williams set up a French Open showdown with old foe Maria Sharapova following a routine win over Julia Goerges.

The 36-year-old American, a three times a winner in Paris, swept aside the German 11th seed 6-3 6-4 in one hour and 15 minutes and will now face Sharapova in a much-anticipated fourth-round clash on Monday.

The two players have had their public falling-outs over the years, but on the court Williams rules.

Sharapova has won just two of their 21 meetings – including the 2004 Wimbledon final – and none in the last 14 years.

Williams is playing her first Grand Slam since giving birth to her daughter in September.

“It’s really special to be here again,” said Williams courtside who, in the previous round, was forced to come from a set and break down to defeat Australia’s 17th seed Ashleigh Barty.

Sealed with a smile.@serenawilliams wins her 75th main draw match at Roland-Garros 6-3 6-4 over Goerges.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/efQNJH7bwb

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2018

“This time last year I was pregnant and I was having a tough time and then I had a tough birth so every match at this stage of my return is a bonus.”

The two players met in the Paris final in 2013 and in the quarter-final of the 2016 Australian Open, which was Sharapova’s last match before a 15-month doping ban.

“It’s been a while, and I think a lot has happened in our lives for the both of us in very different ways,” said the 31-year-old Sharapova.

“I have spoken about that chapter for a long time now, and to be able to put myself back in these positions and to not shy away from these moments, to come out on centre court and want the challenge of moving forward and to be able to face Serena, I think that speaks for itself.”

Sharapova dropped just three games as she knocked out the sixth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova.

The Russian, seeded 28th, was taken to three sets in round one by Holland’s Richel Hogenkamp and had to dig deep again on Thursday to overcome Croatia’s Donna Vekic in round two.

But she secured a far more straightforward passage into round four with a 6-2 6-1 victory in just 59 minutes.

And Williams thinks her old rival has a competitive edge in Paris this year.

“She’s probably a favourite in this match,” said Williams.

“I’m just really trying to get my bearings and trying to feel out where I am and see where I can go. But I think this will be another test.”

Kvitova streak ends, Muguruza marches on

Petra Kvitova’s hot streak on clay has ended in disappointing fashion, with the Czech losing a tight match to Anett Kontaveit in a delayed French Open third-round encounter.

Kvitova, one of seven women’s Grand Slam champions in action on day seven, was edged out 7-6 (6) 7-6 (4) on Court One – snapping a 13-match winning run.

Anett Kontaveit’s clay court season continues!

Progresses to the second week of @rolandgarros with a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) win over No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova –> https://t.co/zt11fpr9kK pic.twitter.com/TSi8KgphYm

— WTA (@WTA) June 2, 2018

The eighth seed began on Saturday in confident fashion against the Estonian whom she had beaten on the way to last month’s Madrid title, but a 3-1 lead turned into a 5-3 deficit.

Kvitova recovered to take the opener into a tiebreaker but Kontaveit, herself in fine form on clay, edged it 8-6, and sealed her first career win over the two-time Wimbledon champion in another tiebreak.

In earlier third-round action, Spanish No.3 seed Garbine Muguruza eliminated Samantha Stosur, outclassing the Australian, 6-0 6-2.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber also impressed as she overcame in-form Kiki Bertens 7-6(4) 7-6(4), while world No.1 Simona Halep secured her fourth round appearance with a 7-5 6-0 win over Andrea Petkovic.

Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko beat 19th seed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, 6-2 6-4 and American No.10 Sloane Stephens survived a scare to down Camila Giorgi of Italy, 4-6 6-1 8-6.

Caroline Garcia continued her convincing run with a 6-1 6-3 win over Lesia Tsurenko, while No.16 seed Elise Mertens overcame Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-3 6-1.