Russia's Maria Sharapova overcame sweltering conditions and a stubborn Karin Knapp of Italy to reach the Australian Open third round on Thursday with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 victory.
Maria Sharapova led a trio of Russians into the last 16 of the French Open on Saturday while a relieved fifth seed David Ferrer was given an unnerving reminder of just how effective Lleyton Hewitt's grit can be.
A relieved Rafael Nadal felt the confidence come flooding back in a first-round romp at the Australian Open on Monday.
Sania Mirza remained the only Indian surviving in the French Open by cruising to the quarter-finals with partner Martina Hingis while seasoned Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna bowed out after third round defeats in Paris.
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro's comeback from a lengthy injury layoff was cut short by Kazakhstan qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin in the quarter-finals of the Sydney international on Thursday.
What happened on Day 3 of the French Open was more surprising. Two of the top five seeded women exited.
Top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis went through several anxious moments before getting past Russian girls Daria Kasatkina and Alexandra Panova in their opening doubles match at the French Open on Wednesday. The reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champions prevailed 7-6(4), 6-2.
Sixth seed Andy Murray may feel the most aggrieved of the top contenders in the men's draw.
Photos from Day 5 action at the Western & Southern Open at Cincinnati on Thursday.
Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova glittered under the Rod Laver Arena lights on Monday, restoring order at the Australian Open after eight women's seeds crashed out in the afternoon sun on a manic opening day. The evergreen Federer strolled into the second round with a classy 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 win over Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun before fellow-second seed Sharapova ruined Croatian qualifier Petra Martic's 24th birthday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Stanislas Wawrinka had to dig deep to beat Borna Coric at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Wednesday and conceded his thoughts had been far from tennis over the past few days.
Fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, whose match was shunted back to the late evening by the disruptions, was the first major casualty of the men's draw when he lostto 62nd ranked Spaniard Roberto Bautista at the Australian Open.
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