Fourteenth seed Paola Suarez struck another blow for Argentinian tennis when she swept aside the feeble challenge of Russian teenager Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time today.
The 27-year-old's victory also continues the remarkable run being enjoyed by Argentinian players at Roland Garros this year which has seen Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudio occupy four of the quarter-final places in the men's singles.
"Sharapova was tight and nervous and I tried to play the ball down the middle because she likes to play the angles," said Suarez, who thrived in the damp, overcast conditions that made the court sluggish and the ball slow.
"The court was tough but when it's heavy like that, it's good for me."
Suarez was helped, however, by 18th seed Sharapova's game completely falling apart as the teenager had her serve broken seven times in the 59 minute match, sending down a calamitous 40 unforced errors in the process compared to just 10 for her opponent.
Sharapova, who hadn't dropped a set in the tournament before today, dropped all of her opening four service games and hit forehands long and wide in the opening set, which Suarez raced through in just 25 minutes.
The Russian calmed herself to break in the first game of the second set to lead 1-0 before the rain, which had already delayed the start by an hour, returned to send the players scurrying from the Suzanne Lenglen Court.
Play resumed after a brief interlude and Suarez came straight back to level at 1-1, then led 2-1 before Sharapova managed to hold her first, and only, service game of the afternoon to go 2-2.
Sharapova then saw a glimmer when she broke back to lead 3-2 with a booming forehand down the line but her hopes were again snuffed out when Suarez came straight back to 3-3.
From that point there was no way back.
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
