Azarenka and Li Na restore order

Victoria Azarenka and Li Na restored order at the French Open yesterday after Roland Garros had lost its top two seeds before the fourth round, a 40-year low point for Paris.

Belarusian fourth seed Azarenka, a 2009 quarter-finalist, reached the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italian 30th seed Roberta Vinci while Li, the Chinese sixth seed, enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

Their wins came a day after top seed Caroline Wozniacki as well as 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur were knocked out in the last 32 while second seeded Kim Clijsters exited the day before in the second round stage.

It was the first time since 1971 that the top two seeds had failed to get beyond the third round.

“The players that they lost to, you have to give them credit,” said Azarenka.

“They must have been playing good if they beat such tough opponents.”

The 21-year-old Azarenka, who next faces Ekaterina Makarova, of Russia, for a place in the quarter-finals, said she still had improvements to make in her game.

That’s despite her playing in Paris at a career-high number four in the world and having won back-to-back titles in Miami and Marbella this year.

“Being the fourth seed gives me extra confidence, but it’s just a number. I can improve. I try to do the best possible. I could do some things better,” she said.

Li reached the fourth round for the second time and will next face dangerous Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova who ended American interest in the tournament with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Vania King.

Li, who made history this year when she became the first Chinese to make a Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, had little trouble in seeing off the 21-year-old Cirstea, a 2009 quarter-finalist.

Seventh seeded Maria Sharapova eliminated qualifier Chan Yung-Jan 6-2, 6-3 and Andrea Petkovic, the 15th seed, also went into the last 16 with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Jarmila Gajdosova.