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Last year's runner-up David Ferrer of Spain, the fifth seed,
bulldozed his way into the last 32 by demolishing Italian Simone
Bolelli 6-2 6-3 6-2.
The fifth seed, who could take on eight-times champion Rafa
Nadal in the quarter-finals, will next play Argentine Juan
Monaco or Italian 32nd seed Andreas Seppi.
"I am ready for the next round and was very happy with my
performance, especially with my consistency," he said.
"My season on clay has been good (when asked about beating Nadal
on clay this season). I have a good feel but I'm focusing on the
moment."
Stephens followed her teenage compatriot Taylor Townsend, who on
Wednesday became the youngest player to go past the second round
at Roland Garros since 2009 on the day world No.1 Serena
Williams and her elder sister Venus were knocked out.
The 21-year-old Stephens blazed through the opening set before
running into a spot of bother midway through the second as
Hercog upped her game but the American ended the contest on her
second match point with a crosscourt forehand winner.
She will next face Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova or
compatriot Coco Vandeweghe.
Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic proved strong on serve to hold off
Japanese Kurumi Nara, who collapsed in the second set in a 7-5
6-0 defeat by the Serbian who is a three-times semi-finalist in
Paris.
"It was not easy, she is returning a lot of balls and the court
is heavy and the conditions generally are heavy," Jankovic said.
"There are still a lot of great players in the draw, every round
is going to be tough. The opponents get more and more
difficult."
Next up for the former world No. 1 is Brazil's Teliana Pereira
or Romanian 26th seed Sorana Cirstea.
Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Russian 27th seed,
laboured to a 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Italian Camila Giorgi to set
up a meeting with either Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova or New
Zealand's Marina Erakovic.
In the men's draw, Croatian 16th seed Ivo Karlovic reached the
third round with a 7-5 6-3 6-4 win over Andreas Haider-Maurer.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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Stephens
Lifts U.S. Spirits At French Open, Ferrer Powers On
