Kuznetsova powers past Radwanska in France

PARIS - Reuters / Agence France-Presse

Svetlana Kuznetsova. REUTERS Photot

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska exited the French Open on June 1 after being comprehensively out-fought and out-manoeuvred in a straight-sets, third-round defeat to former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The 26th seed, who won the 2009 title at Roland Garros, won 6-1 6-2 with a display of relentless consistency to which the frequently wayward Radwanska had no response.

Despite her lithe frame, the Pole looked ill at ease on the clay and lacked the all-round aggression of her Russian opponent who broke four times to take the first set in 30 minutes.

Kuznetsova continued to punish the out-of-sorts Radwanska to book her place in the fourth round where she will face Italy’s claycourt specialist Sara Errani who beat 13th seed Ana Ivanovic.

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova needed just one hour to beat Ayumi Morita in two sets.

The Russian superstar outclassed the Japanese player 6-1, 6-1 in straight sets.

Ana Ivanovic lost in the third round of the French Open, while American teen Sloane Stephens advanced.
Ivanovic fell to Sara Errani of Italy 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Stephens advanced to the fourth round by beating Mathilde Johansson of France 6-3, 6-2.