Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova strolled into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-2 6-1 drubbing of compatriot Nadia Petrova on Saturday.
The 2004 U.S. Open champion, tipped as a possible winner by just retired four-times champion Justine Henin [Images], will next face 16th seed Victoria Azarenka after the Belarusian crushed Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-1.
Kuznetsova, a finalist at Roland Garros two years ago, got off to a flying start, breaking twice to open a 3-0 lead and although she dropped serve once, she took the opening set after 40 minutes when the 25th-seeded Petrova netted a forehand.
The 22-year-old Kuznetsova maintained her momentum and broke in the first game of the second set, again in the fifth and seventh to seal victory after 69 minutes when Petrova netted yet another forehand.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Miles Evans)
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