You're reading: Sharapova labours into French Open last eight

PARIS - Maria Sharapova fought Klara Zakopalova as well as swirling winds for more than three hours to book her place in the French Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-7 6-2 win over the unheralded Czech on June 4.

The Russian second seed, looking to complete her collection of grand slam titles, spent more time on court on June 4 than she had in total over her three previous matches.

The windswept conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier made it almost impossible for the players to throw the ball and a total of 21 games, 17 of them in the first two sets, went against serve.

Sharapova, who will take over as world number one if she reaches the final, eventually stamped her authority on the match in the final set to set up a last-eight meeting with either Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus or Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi.