Maria Sharapova survives to reach quarter-finals at French Open

Maria Sharapova survived two match points before overcoming Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 3-6 6-4 9-7 in a gripping fourth-round match on Sunday.

Schnyder served for the match three times before dropping serve in the last game, bowing out by sending a forehand wide after two hours and 37 minutes of a tight contest that could have gone either way. The Russian, who has been playing through pain at this year's Roland Garros after her recent shoulder problems, held her nerve to claim a sensational 3-6 6-4 9-7 triumph, after more than two-and-a-half hours' play on Suzanne Lenglen court.
Maria Sharapova saved match points in the 10th and 14th games of the last set, only to clinch victory on the first of her own in the 16th and final game. "It's pretty hard being a tennis player and Mother Theresa at the same time and that's just the way it is," the 20 year-old Russian said. Sharapova, who has never got past the quarter-finals at the Paris grand slam, will next play Russia's Anna Chakvetadze after the ninth seed beat Lucie Safarova 6-4 0-6 6-2.