Roger Federer and Novak Djo-kovic ran into a spot of bother at the French Open, dropping a set each and needing over three hours to reach the fourth round yesterday.
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic, becoming the latest victim of a new generation of talent sweeping through the women’s draw.
Seventeen-times grand slam champion Roger Federer saw off Russian Dmitry Tursunov 7-5 6-7(7) 6-2-6-4 and Serbian second seed Djokovic, chasing the only grand slam title to elude him, beat Croatian Marin Cilic 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4.
“I am relieved and happy to be through to the next round,” said fourth seed Federer.
Tursunov, the 31st seed, played boldly but needed treatment on his leg in the third set and Federer set up a meeting with Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, who is rediscovering his best form after a free fall down the rankings.
Djokovic, one of three men to have beaten eight-times Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal on clay this season, showed signs of frustration against Cilic.
He seemed in complete control when his 25th-seeded opponent forced a tiebreak that the six-times grand slam winner lost 7-2.
Djokovic regained control, however, and sealed victory when Cilic double-faulted.
His next opponent will be either local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 13th seed, or Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz.
In the women’s draw, the top three seeds have now been sent packing following the first-round exit of Chinese Li Na and the second-round elimination of defending champion and world No.1 Serena Williams.
It is the first time since tennis turned professional in 1968 that the top three seeds in the women’s draw have failed to qualify for the fourth round of a grand slam.
“After seeing the two first seeds go out, you kind of feel you can do this too,” Tomljanovic, 21, said.
“I grew up with these girls who are beating them. I went into the stadium for the first time, and she kind of feels like home there, because she’s been there a lot more than I have.
“I went out there and inside I really thought I could win. I think that showed and it is why I won.”
Tomljanovic, who had failed to qualify for Roland Garros every year since 2010, will next meet Spanish 14th seed Carla Suarez Navarro after she ended the run of American teenager Taylor Town-send with a 6-2 6-2 win.
Maria Sharapova inflicted the first “double bagel” of the French Open when she beat unseeded Argentine Paula Ormaechea 6-0 6-0 in the third round.
The first game of the match was interrupted for about 30 minutes by rain and Sharapova, the seventh seed from Russia, was forced to save three break points.
But from then on it was one-way traffic with Sharapova devouring the Argentine’s serve and despatching winners with ruthless aplomb.
Sharapova will now play Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-4.