Stosur beats Paris rain in French Open

PARIS: Former finalist Samantha Stosur and three-time semi-finalist Jelena Jankovic beat torrential Paris rain to reach the French Open third round Thursday.

After a one hour, 40 minute halt had left ninth-seeded Stosur a set and 4-1 up on France's Kristina Mladenovic, the Australian then took advantage of a 20-minute window on their return to Court Philippe Chatrier to complete a 6-4, 6-3 win.

The 2011 US Open champion will face Serb 18th seed Jelena Jankovic for a place in the last 16.

Jankovic, a semi-finalist in 2007, 2008 and 2010, beat Spain's Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-0.

China's Zheng Jie also reached the last 32 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Melanie Oudin of the United States.

Kazakh 27th seed Yaroslava Shvedova, who made the quarter-finals last year, was knocked out by Argentine qualifier Paula Ormaechea, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).

Ormaechea will face either Chinese sixth seed Li Na, the 2011 champion, or America's Bethanie Mattek-Sands for a spot in the last 16.

Li was 7-5, 3-4 ahead when her second round match was halted.

German men's 16th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber reached the third round without hitting a ball when Taiwan opponent Lu Yen-Hsun withdrew with an ankle injury. (AFP)