Nadal, Djokovic power on

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both reached the last 16 at the French Open yesterday, but Andy Roddick was stunned by Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili as the men's seeds began to fall.

Gabashvili, ranked 114 in the world, was ably abetted by American world no.98 Robby Ginepri, who upset the form book by beating 16th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-4.

Ginepri's reward is a fourth-round meeting with Djokovic, who fought off Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Nadal stayed in the hunt for a fifth Roland Garros crown by beating Lleyton Hewitt.

Austrian 22nd seed Jurgen Melzer dumped out ninth-seeded David Ferrer and will face Gabashvili for a place in the quarter-finals after the Russian's 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 upset win over Roddick.

Nadal was broken in his opening service game against Hewitt but hit back to edge a well-contested first set before securing the decisive break of serve in the second set when the Australian fired a flat forehand long.

Hewitt, now ranked 33 in the world, showed flashes of his trademark tenacity but was no match for the Spanish clay king, who sewed up a straightforward 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory on his third match point.

"He's an unbelievable player, a great champion, he's had very good titles and is former number one," said Nadal of the Australian.

Next up for Nadal is Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci, the 24th seed, who defeated Croatian 14th seed Ivan Ljubicic 7-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Djokovic comfortably took the first set against 31st seed Hanescu but he lost his way in the second, making six double faults and 11 unforced errors to gift his opponent a way back into the match.

The Serbian recovered in the third set though, before grinding through the gears in the fourth to set up a last-16 encounter with surprise winner Ginepri.

Serena scare

Women's top seed Serena Williams survived a French Open health scare yesterday, while Russia's Nadia Petrova defeated Roland Garros golden girl Aravane Rezai in a marathon, centre court comedy of errors.

Williams beat Russia's 29th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 to reach the last 16, but needed treatment after going 0-5 down in the second set, having cruised through the opener.

She had her pulse tested and temperature taken courtside, although she did manage to compose herself to win the next game before the 18-year-old Russian went on to level the match.

Williams, despite still appearing uncomfortable, then broke twice in the final set and will face Israel's Shahar Peer for a place in the quarter-finals.

Petrova, the Russian 20th seed, beat Rezai 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 in a third-round match that had been suspended in darkness on Friday at 7-7 in the final set.

Both players had already squandered three match points, but in a final set that contained 11 service breaks, the Russian two-time semi-finalist held her nerve and will tackle second seed Venus Williams for a place in the last eight.

The tense encounter featured 46 unforced errors by Rezai and 40 off the Russian's side.

Australia will have two players in the last 16 thanks to wins by seventh seed Samantha Stosur and wildcard Jarmila Groth.

Stosur cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Russian Anastasia Pivovarova and will next face either Justine Henin or Maria Sharapova whose match was postponed last night.

Groth defeated Anastasia Rodionova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Late result: Jankovic bt Bondarenko 6-4 7-6.