Ivanovic, Svitolina Advance To QF At Rainy French Open; Sharapova, Serena Monday

Former champion Ana Ivanovic advanced to the quarterfinals Sunday on a rainy Sunday. The Serb waited out a 2 hour, 30 minute rain delay to put away Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

“The conditions were very tough. It was very gusty, and rain was coming at times,” Ivanovic said. “I was really happy I managed to keep composed when we got back on court after the rain delay. Even though I didn’t play very well in the first game, I served well the next game. I was happy about that.

“In the third I knew I had to step up my level, because she’s a very dangerous opponent. She gets a lot of balls, and she was very aggressive on her down-the-line shots. I tried to take that away from her.”

The 2008 champion will now face surprising Elina Svitolina. The youngest player to make the fourth round, the 20-year-old ended French hopes defeating Alize Cornet for a first time 6-2, 7-6(9), taking the match on her sixth match point.

“I was expecting this from here, because she’s obviously a great fighter,” Svitolina said. “I have seen a lot of matches when she won after being a long way down.

“I was expecting this, but actually I was trying to stay calm and just play my game. Of course, it was tough with the wind against, the crowd and against the player. She was fighting. I think she gave her best, and, yeah, I’m really happy that I could win and when that ball went long on the last point.”

Ivanovic has won all six meetings against Svitolina. They will play their quarterfinals on Tuesday.

“I honestly haven’t watched her throughout this tournament, and obviously she’s been improving her form each match,” Ivanovic said. “We played in Madrid just a few weeks ago. She’s a young player and I have been speaking about her for a long time. I think we are going to see plenty of her in the future.

“It’s going to be a tough match. Anyone who gets to the quarterfinals deserves the spot.”

The last Frenchwoman to win in Roland Garros is still Mary Pierce in 2000.

Because of the rains, the last two matches of the day were cancelled. Maria Sharapova was due to take on Lucie Safarova and Garbine Muguruza was scheduled to take on Flavia Pennetta.

Those two matches will be added to Monday’s final fourth round slate which includes Serena Williams against Sloane Stephens, former finalist Sara Errani faces Julia Goerges, Petra Kvitova clashes with Swiss Timea Bacsinsky and Alison Van Utvanck meets Andreea Mitu.