Molik to meet Sharapova

Alicia Molik has set up a third round meeting with Russian fourth seed Maria Sharapova, while three doubles teams involving Australians are into the second round at Roland Garros.

Molik faced a tough struggle against Romanian qualifier Anda Perianu, but edged through after a 3-6 7-6(5) 6-3 win. Molik surrendered the first set in just 26 minutes and then came within two points of defeat against the world No.177.

But a spirited fight back saw Molik win the tiebreak after being locked at 5-5, then jump to a 5-1 lead in the decider. Molik conceded another two games before closing out the match on serve after 1hr 43mins.

The win will see Molik face her toughest test since her comeback when she clashes with former world No.1 Maria Sharapova. The Russian advanced after a convincing 6-4 6-1 win over Czech Iveta Benesova. In the first round Sharapova survived a scare when she saved three match points against American Mashona Washington.

Second seeded doubles team Rennae Stubbs and Cara Black dropped the first set of their first round match before advancing 3-6 6-4 6-3 over Czechs Klara Koukalova and Lucie Safarova.

In the men’s doubles fourth seeds Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett were also stretched to three sets before prevailing 6-2 3-6 6-3 over Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Stephen Huss and teammate Harel Levy also moved into the second round with a 6-4 2-6 7-5 victory against Frenchmen Jeremy Chardy and Josselin Ouanna.

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