Venus sent packing

PARIS (AP):

Venus Williams was beaten in the fourth round of the French Open by Russia's Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 6-3 yesterday, while Roger Federer easily advanced into the quarter-finals on the men's side.

Williams came into the tournament seeded No. 2 behind her sister Serena, but Petrova spoiled the possibility of a sibling showdown in the final.

"I'm obviously disappointed," Williams said. "I feel like I had a day where I wanted to hit the ball cross-court and it went down the line. It just wasn't a good day."

Petrova has been a nemesis for the Williams family lately - she beat Serena in the third round at Madrid less than three weeks ago.

"Today's match was just about going out there and performing my best," Petrova said. "I was mentally focused and I kept my nerves calm."

Petrova, like many others in recent days, offered a review of Williams' corset.

"I must say, the dress that Venus wore, you must have a little guts to do that," she said.

Serena wore her playing outfit while watching her sister's defeat from the stands. They later teamed up in a third-round doubles match, beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-1, 6-2.

Petrova, seeded 19th, is a two-time semifinalist, but she is into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2005. The victory was her first against Williams in their five meetings.

Justine Henin rallied in a winner-take-all set that seemed like a final, outslugging Maria Sharapova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The two former No. 1s returned to centre court following an overnight suspension of the third-round showdown after two sets.

Men's play

In men's play, the top-ranked Federer continued his bid for a second successive title by beating Olympic doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Federer will next play No. 5-seeded Robin Soderling in a rematch of last year's final. Soderling advanced by beating No. 10 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

No. 4 Andy Murray was upset by No. 15 Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Berdych will next play No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny, who advanced when eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a hip injury when trailing 6-2. Berdych and Youzhny are first-time Roland Garros quarter-finalists.

Joining Petrova in the women's quarter-finals were No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 5 Elena Dementieva and No. 17 Francesca Schiavone.