Open welcomes future star

PARIS – Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova battled into the French Open last 32 on Wednesday as Roland Garros saw the future of women’s tennis in the shape of high-volume 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito.

Four-time champion Nadal enjoyed a comfortable 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia to register a record 30th straight win here to better the mark set by Chris Evert.

In the first round Nadal surpassed Bjorn Borg for the longest unbeaten run for a man and a tournament win here on June 7 would make him the first to win five titles in a row in Paris.

“I came here to get a result without thinking about these records,” said Nadal who will face former world number one Lleyton Hewitt for a place in the last 16.

“The important thing is to play my best tennis and be there on the final Sunday.”

Triple Grand Slam title winner Sharapova, playing only her second tournament following a 10-month lay-off to recover from shoulder surgery, prevailed in a bruising 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 win over Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova.

The former world number one, whose world ranking has slumped to 102 as a consequence of her lengthy absence, will now face Kazakh qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova for a place in the last 16.

“These types of matches are very important for me although I spent more time on the court than I wanted to,” said Sharapova after the 2hr 12min encounter which saw her recover from a break down in the final set.

“But I’m learning new things. It was a great match where I had to fight really hard and that’s what I did. I’m glad I picked myself up and I could win.”

Portuguese teenager de Brito only turned 16 in January and, like Sharapova, is a graduate of the famed Nick Bolletieri academy in Florida which she joined when she was only nine.

Making her Grand Slam debut, de Brito, ranked 132, came through qualifying and on Wednesday made sure of a place in the last 32 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over China’s 15th seed Zheng Jie, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year.

De Brito, with her flowing all-court game and deafening decibel level, now goes on to face France’s Aravane Rezai.

“I went to Florida when I was nine with my family. But I feel Portuguese and that will always be the case,” said the teenager.

“I feel super fit. I have felt a lot less pressure here than in other tournaments. I play, that’s it.”

In the midst of Sharapova’s heroics, and de Brito’s headline-grabbing performance, defending champion Ana Ivanovic slipped quietly into the next round with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn. (AP)