Women's Day 7 Recap: No Love for French Locals

Third-round play continued at the French Open on Saturday. There were six exciting matchups between highly-seeded players on Day 7.

One of the most successful players on the women's tour this year has been Shahar Peer of Israel. Peer is 29-10 this season, accumulating more wins than any other WTA player.

The 18th-seeded Peer faced off against 13th-seeded and hometown favorite Marion Bartoli (pictured) on Day 7. Peer pulled out an important first set win in an exciting back-and-forth crucial tiebreaker 7-6 (7). After winning the set, the crowd seemed to die down and Bartoli never recovered. Peer won the match 7-6 (7), 6-2. Peer and Serena Williams will face off in a very exciting fourth-round matchup.

The French crowd lost both of their hopes on the women's side of the tournament Saturday. In an exciting matchup, the 15th-seeded Aravene Rezai also lost on Day 7. Rezai was defeated by 19th-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-7 (2), 6-4, 10-8.

In what was the most anticipated match on the women's side Saturday, four-time French Open champion Justine Henin went up against tennis icon Maria Sharapova. Henin looked dominant in the first set, winning 6-2, while Sharapova controlled the second set in a 6-3 win. Following the second set, play was suspended due to darkness and it will be continued on Sunday. Henin is coming back to the French Open for the first time in what amounted to be a 20-month layoff. Sharapova is seeking the only Grand Slam that eludes her.

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Fighting off flu-like symptoms, No. 1 seed Serena Williams survived a scare against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia and defeated her in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Serena was treated by a trainer after the second set when she started to feel dizzy and fatigued. After the trainer's visit, she cruised in the third set to advance into the fourth round for the second straight year.

In other action on Saturday at the French Open on the women's side:

Jelena Jankovic (4) of Serbia defeated Alona Bondarenko (27) of the Ukraine 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Sam Stosur (7) of Australia has been on the top of her game and will be a tough out for any player on the women's side. She defeated Anastasia Pivovarova of Russia in straight sets. She will play the winner of Henin-Sharapova in the fourth round.

Daniela Hantuchova (23) of Slovakia defeated Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium (16) in straight sets. Hantuchova will face Jankovic in the fourth round.

Jarmila Groth of Australia advanced defeating compatriot Anastasia Rodionova in three sets.

Yaroslava Shvedova upset Alisa Kleybanova (28) of Russia in three sets. Shvedova will face Groth in a surprising fourth-round match.

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