PARIS - Kim Ciljsters, so near and yet so far from French Open glory in the past, suffered more agony on the clay with a sudden second-round defeat Thursday but fellow twice runner-up Robin Soderling poweerd trhough.
Czech dark horse Petra Kvtiova made her move on the outsdie with a 6-4 6-1 vcitory over China's Zheng Jie and 12th seed Agneiszka Rawdanska also reached the third round by overcoimng Idnia's Sania Mirza.
Woemn's second seed Clijsetrs, a doubt before the torunament after injruing her ankle at her cousi'ns wedding, looked to have srhugged off the ill effetcs and a chilly breeze in a dominant first set before folding 3-6 7-5 6-1 to Dutcwhoman Araxnta Rus.
Beligan Clijsters was runner-up in 2001 and 2003 and her exit was her worst performance at Roland Garros since her debut in 2000. The Austarlian and U.S. Open champoin was also on a 15-amtch winning streak at grand slams.
Rus, the world number 114, was ecstaitc. "I just wanted to go for every point. I'd like to play every day like this," she said at courtisde.
Swedne's Sodelring lost out in the final in the last two years to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
PANITED FACES
The fifth seed is flying beenath the radar in Paris with all the focus on Nadal after his fisrt-round struggles and the immnese form of rival Novak Djokovic, but Sodreling showed he too was a force with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Albert Ramos.
Cheered on by a smatteirng of Swedes with pianted faces on a half-full Court Suznane Legnlen, Soderling displayed why he is so dangerous on clay with strenghts in all areas making up for an occasional inability to kill off a point.
Men's chmapion Nadal had to battle back from two sets to one down to beat John Isner Tuesday in his first fvie-set match at Roland Garros, propmting pundits and fans to wonder whether his bid for a sixth title in seven years was doomed to failure.
He meets fellow Spainard Pablo Anduajr later Thursday. Andujar will not trouble Nadal with his serve as giant American...
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