Paris: Maria Sharapova reached the fourth round of the French Open for the fourth time in her career on Saturday, coming back from 4-1 down in the second set to beat Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 6-4 despite an apparently bothersome right shoulder.
The second-seeded Russian needed only 28 minutes to win the first set, breaking her opponent three times. But Sharapova was broken three consecutive times in the second set, before winning five straight games.
Sharapova, who lost in the fourth round last year and reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2004 and 2005, next faces either No. 14 Patty Schynder or Karin Knapp -- and could also meet No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals.
Sharapova, who has 15 career titles and lost to Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open, has yet to win a title this year.
Earlier in the tournament, she spoke of still feeling soreness from a shoulder injury that caused her to miss about two months of action. Against Kudryavtseva, Sharapova would stretch or flex her right shoulder between points.
Also, No. 7 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia advanced to the fourth round after beating qualifier Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania 6-2, 6-0.
Later on Saturday, No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo is scheduled to play No. 25 Lucie Safarova. Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal played Albert Montanes, and two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt and No. 6 Novak Djokovic were also scheduled to play.
On Friday, Williams advanced to the fourth round by beating Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4.
''For me, it's just another Slam,'' said Williams, who won her only French Open title in 2002. ''I don't make it a big deal.''
Williams' sister, Venus, is one of 18 American men and women who have come and gone from the tournament. She lost to fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
Justine Henin, trying to win her second straight French Open and third overall, also won, while top-ranked Roger Federer eased into the fourth round of the men's draw by beating Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-3, 6-0.
Despite her relatively routine win over Krajicek, Serena Williams was still concerned about her game.
''I didn't think I played well at all,'' she said. ''I'm trying not to peak too soon, but at some point I need to start playing better.''
Federer is playing just about as well as anyone, but the 10-time Grand Slam champion could face some familiar opponents if he gets past No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny and makes it to the quarterfinals.
No. 29 Filippo Volandri could be waiting in the last eight, and No. 19 Guillermo Canas is a possible semifinal opponent. Both Volandri and Canas beat Federer this year, giving him three of his four losses.
''I'm just happy that things are going well,'' said Federer, who also lost to Nadal this year. ''I haven't lost a set (at the French Open). I'm feeling well, anyway.''
Volandri, who beat Federer in the third round of the Rome Masters, upset No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-4, 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Canas defeated Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-2, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 15 David Nalbandian also advanced. They will face each other in the fourth round.
''I've played against him repeatedly,'' said Nalbandian, a two-time French Open semifinalist who eliminated Gael Monfils 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5). ''I've won, and from time to time, I've lost.''
Actually, Nalbandian leads Davydenko 5-2, including a win in the quarterfinals of last year's French Open.
Marion Bartoli, an 18th-seeded Frenchwoman who will make her first fourth-round appearance in 22 Grand Slam tournaments, upset No. 13 Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-2, 6-4.
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