Sharapova, Kuznetsova win at French Open

Paris -- Russians Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova were third-round winners Saturday at the French Open Tennis Tournament.

The second-seeded Sharapova was an easy 6-1, 6-4 winner against another Russian, Alla Kudryavtseva. Kuznetsova, the women's No. 3 seed, topped Slovakian qualifier Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-3.

In a surprise, fifth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, a heavy fan favorite in her native France, lost 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to No. 25 seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. It was her second loss to Safarova in a Grand Slam this season. Safarova beat the former World No. 1 in the fourth round at the Australian Open.

Mauresmo has dropped first- or second-round matches in six of her first seven trips to Roland Garros.

"It's disappointing," Mauresmo said. "I was 3-0 up in both sets, but I was not able to follow up."

Among other women's winners were Ana Ivanovic and Anna Chakvetadze.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.