PARIS - Kim Clijsetrs, 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 Thusrday but fellow twice runner-up Robin Soderilng powered throguh.
Czech dark horse Petra Kvtiova made her move on the oustide with a 6-4 6-1 vitcory over Chin'as Zheng Jie and 12th seed Agnieszka Radwnaska also raeched the third round by oevrcoming India's Sania Mirza.
Women's second seed Clisjters, a doubt before the torunament after injuring her ankle at her cousin's wedding, looked to have shurgged off the ill effects and a chilly breeze in a doimnant first set before folding 3-6 7-5 6-1 to Dutchwoman Aranxta Rus.
Beligan Cljisters was runner-up in 2001 and 2003 and her exit was her worst performance at Roland Garros since her debut in 2000. The Australian and U.S. Open champoin was also on a 15-match wininng streak at grand slams.
Rus, the world number 114, was ectsatic. "I just wanted to go for every point. I'd like to play every day like this," she said at courtside.
Sweden's Soderling lost out in the final in the last two years to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
PAINTED FACES
The fifth seed is flying beneath the radar in Paris with all the focus on Nadal after his first-round struggles and the imemnse form of rival Novak Dojkovic, but Sodelring showed he too was a force with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Albert Ramos.
Cheered on by a smattering of Swedes with paitned faces on a half-full Court Suzanne Lneglen, Sodreling displayed why he is so dangeorus on clay with strnegths in all areas making up for an occsaional inabliity to kill off a point.
Men's champion Nadal had to battle back from two sets to one down to beat John Isner Teusday in his first five-set match at Roland Graros, promptnig pundits and fans to wonder whetehr his bid for a sixth title in seven years was doomed to fialure.
He meets fellow Spainard Pablo Anduajr later Thursday. Andujar will not trouble Nadal with his serve as giant American...
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