Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova powered into the last 16 at the French Open on Saturday, finally finding her form after earlier struggles at Roland Garros.
The fourth seed from the Czech Republic outplayed Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-2 in just 58 minutes, taking the last five games at a canter.
– Reem’s #RG15 diary: Murray, Federer & Nadal discuss FIFA arrests
– French Open: Monfils battles through, Federer & Sharapova advance
That was in stark contrast to her first two rounds that saw her grind out six sets and spend just four minutes short of five hours on the court.
Next up for Kvitova, who also won Wimbledon in 2011, but who has only managed a single semi-final in Paris in 2012, will be a fourth round tie against either Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland or Madison Keys of the United States.
I think this photo shows how I feel Fourth round at #RG15 #pojd #teampetra pic.twitter.com/VggopR5eYc
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) May 30, 2015
Also through to the last 16 in early play was Italian Sara Errani, losing finalist in 2012, who gained revenge on Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-3, 6-3.
Petkovic ousted Errani at Roland Garros last year at the quarter-final stage before losing in the semis.
There was disappointment though for another Italian, 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone losing 7-5, 6-4 to Andreea Mitu of Romania.
Ranked 100th in the world, Mitu is playing in her first French Open and her three wins in Paris this week were her first at Grand Slam level.
WATCH: An emotional @andreea_mitu celebrates after her upset of 2010 champion #Schiavone to reach the R16. #RG15 https://t.co/NQOdgajHu5
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2015
Saturday’s action at Roland Garros, completing the last 16 lineup for the women, sees four American players in action led by top seed and two-time winner Serena Williams.
The bottom half of the draw completed third round matches on Friday giving an all-European lineup headed by second seed and defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia.
Williams was scheduled last on the Court Philippe Chatrier, going up against back-to-form Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
The two have played each other 18 times with Williams well ahead at 15-3, but the 19-time Grand Slam winner looked out of sorts in the second round, needing three tough sets to see off the challenge of unheralded German Anna-Lena Friedsam.
Other Americans on the programme were fit-again Sloane Stephens playing Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria and 85th ranked Irina Falconi up against Germany’s Julia Goerges.