Azarenka routs Schiavone to reach French quarters

Published January 13, 2015

Victoria Azarenka thumped former champion Francesca Schiavone to open play Monday at the French Open.

The third-seeded Azarenka won the final nine games in a 6-3, 6-0 fourth-round rout to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the third time. The reigning two-time Australian Open champ, though, has never been to the semifinals at Roland Garros.

"The next step is quarterfinals," Azarenka said. "Never been past it here, so it would definitely be a much better result."

Schiavone won the 2010 French title and was the 2011 runner-up. The Italian veteran hasn't been past fourth round of a major since her loss to Li Na in the 2011 French finale.

Azarenka will next play 12th-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko, who handled surprising American Bethanie-Mattek Sands 7-5, 6-4 on Day 9. The 26-year-old Kirilenko has yet to lose a set at this fortnight and will now appear in her first-ever French Open quarterfinal and only her third career major quarter.

Two other fourth-round matches are on Monday's schedule, as defending champion Maria Sharapova will meet American Sloane Stephens and Jelena Jankovic will take on another American in Jamie Hampton.

Former champions Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova were among Sunday's fourth-round winners and will meet in the quarterfinals. Sara Errani, last year's runner-up to Sharapova, also advanced Sunday and will play Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/azarenka-routs-schiavone-to-reach-french-quarters