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Basking in her latest victory today, Maria Sharapova grabbed a pinch of red clay at Roland Garros and gave it a rub. She’ll be back for...

Basking in her latest victory today, Maria Sharapova grabbed a pinch of red clay at Roland Garros and gave it a rub. She’ll be back for more.

A Siberia native who lives in Florida, the 17-year-old Sharapova advanced to the fourth round of the French Open by beating fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Precocious and photogenic, Sharapova has drawn comparisons to a young Anna Kournikova. Sharapova reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and is seeded 18th, and the victory over Zvonareva was her second this month against a top-10 player.

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“I don’t think anything can stop me unless I lose,” Sharapova said with a laugh. “So far I’m very confident with the way I’ve been playing.”

She’ll next face Marlene Weingartner, who beat No. 8 seeded Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3, 6-2.

Petrova, a semifinalist last year, had five double faults and lost her serve seven times. Her defeat guarantees a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in that quarter of the draw.

“I’m very disappointed,” Petrova said. “This French Open is screwed up. It’s a very open draw this year. Anyone can be in the final.”

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Perhaps it will be Sharapova. Born in Nyagan, Russia, she moved to the Black Sea resort of Sochi at age 2, began playing tennis at 4, started training at Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy in Florida at 9 and had an agent by 11.

Plus she can play, smacking aggressive shots with a shriek that has sometimes drawn complaints from opponents. Sharapova raced to a 4-0 lead against the No. 10-seeded Zvonareva, then wavered in the second set but closed out the victory with a solid tie-breaker.

	Bhupathi-Mirnyi move into the third round

	• Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi bounced back from a first set deficit to advance to the third round of the men’s doubles. The third seeded Indo-Belarussian pair defeated Karol Kucera of Slovakia and Australian Todd Perry 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in the second round.

In men’s play, No. 9 Tim Henman reached the fourth round for the first time in nine appearances at Roland Garros by beating Galo Blanco 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-2. Alex Corretja lost to No. 22 Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Guillermo Coria of Argentina, one of favourites for the event, also advanced, beating Croatian Mario Ancic 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

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Juan Carlos Ferrero’s bid to repeat ended when he was beaten by Russian Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

Another Russian eliminated was 17-year-old Maria Kirilenko, who came up just short yesterday in pursuit of the biggest victory yet for women’s tennis in her nation. Kirilenko lost to Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the second round, but she expects to be heard from again.

Russia had seven women reach the round of 32 – more than any other country, and a reflection of the nation’s recent progress in the sport.

Six Americans remained. That included Williams and her sister Venus, and Jennifer Capriati, thanks to a trio of come-from-behind wins yesterday. Second-seeded Serena had the toughest time, beating MariaKirilenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.