Sharapova edges past Stosur

Paris - Maria Sharapova stayed on course for a second French Open title with a battling 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 fourth round win over Australia's Samantha Stosur on Sunday.

Stosur, the losing finalist in Paris in 2010, the year before she won her only major to date at the US Open, dominated the first set with two breaks of serve.

But seventh seed Sharapova steadied the ship to lead 2-0 at the start of the second before Stosur levelled at 2-2.

The ninth game proved to be crucial as Sharapova fired down two stunning winners to break again and then held serve to level the match.

The Russian, who won the French Open in 2012 to complete a sweep of all four Grand Slam titles, grabbed another break to open the decider and with the Stosur challenge visibly wilting, she turned on the power to reach her third straight quarter-final in Paris.

Sharapova will next play unseeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruzu who defeated French wildcard Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-2 for a place in the semi-finals.

"I am so happy to be back in the quarter-finals as it is such a special tournament for me," said Sharapova.

"I just hope I can raise my level and play even better in the second week."

Results on Sunday at the French Open, the eighth day of the season's second Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeded player):

Men

Fourth round

Tomas Berdych (CZE x6) bt John Isner (USA x10) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Ernests Gulbis (LAT x18) bt Roger Federer (SUI x4) 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Milos Raonic (CAN x8) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3

Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x13) 6-1, 6-4, 6-1

Third round

Fernando Verdasco (ESP x24) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x12) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

Andy Murray (GBR x7) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x28) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10

Women

Fourth round

Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-4, 6-2

Maria Sharapova (RUS x7) bt Samantha Stosur (AUS x19) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x14) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-3, 6-3

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x18) bt Angelique Kerber (GER x8) 6-1, 6-2