Mauresmo and Sharapova Stunned

Day Eight of the French Open included two big upsets on the women's side. Both top seed Amelie Mauresmo and fourth seeded Maria Sharapova were dismissed in the Round of 16 Sunday at Roland Garros.

After winning her first ever grand slam in Australia, Mauresmo's struggles in Paris continued. The home favorite Frenchwoman once again fell short in her bid to deliver a second consecutive slam win on clay- falling to 16th seeded 17-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-2.

After dropping the opening set in a tiebreak, Vaidisova took control from the baseline, forcing Mauresmo into unforced errors. After leveling the match, she assumed complete control by breaking Mauresmo twice to jump out to a 4-0 lead. But before victory was safe, Mauresmo made one final push. After finally holding for 1-4, she had two break points to get a break back but Vaidisova coolly fought them off to lead 5-1 before closing out Mauresmo two games later.

Vaidisova's biggest win of her career gave her a first ever berth in a slam quarterfinal. It also avenged a blowout loss to Mauresmo in Melbourne.

"I was in my little zone," an Vaidisova told reporters after the victory. "It definitely felt great. I knew I had to be more aggressive than I was [in Australia] because she moves very well. In long rallies she definitely gets tough. I just wanted to play a little faster, get the points a little shorter. Definitely worked for me today. And I served very well."

"I fell down physically at the beginning of the second set. My shots were not long enough, nor powerful," Mauresmo said. "I was not able to step back into the court like in the first set. I couldn't dictate the point. I don't feel I got nervous though."

For Mauresmo, it was another disappointing result at Roland Garros. In 12 career appearances, she has never made it past the quarters. This time, she won't even get that chance.

"I'm disappointed, but I also put things again into perspective," Mauresmo said. "And it's, of course, disappointing always to lose here at home in Roland Garros. But that's just the way it is, and still things to get better in and things to improve."

Vaidisova will take on American Venus Williams next. The lone remaining American in either draw, the 11th seeded Williams cameback to beat seventh seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

"I think I might be the last American in the draw. I think I am. Lone flag waving gently in the wind," she pointed out to reporters afterwards.

After a slow start, Williams found her form in the final two sets to take control- making her second French quarter in three years.

"It's a good place to be," added Williams. "I'm excited. Definitely solid into the second week. It's really about stepping it up at the right time. That's what I was fortunate enough to do today in that second set, really force the issue in the third, too. No matter what level I may be playing at, to know that I can take it to the next level. It's a really secure feeling."

Also falling Sunday was Sharapova. Like Mauresmo, Sharapova fell in three sets to countrywoman Dinara Safina (14) 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. However, the set of circumstances were very different.

After coming back to take the second set, Sharapova was in complete control in the final set. A game away from a quarter berth up 5-1, it all fell apart. Safina rallied to take the final six games of the match to stun Sharapova, clinching her first ever slam quarter with a backhand crosscourt winner before celebrating.

"I think I started to just, I took everything in my hands," Safina said. "I said like, OK, like before she was dictating, I had to run always from corner to corner. I said, OK, now I try to make her run. I started to look for the lines and I started to be more aggressive from every point. It finished my way today."

For Sharapova, she wasn't expecting much after having missed the past six weeks with a right ankle injury.

"I haven't played a lot of matches in the past weeks and don't feel like I'm match-tough enough," she exclaimed. "Of course I'm disappointed, but I didn't think I would be playing my best tennis here. Going on to grass, it's going to be a totally different story."

The younger sister of Marat Safin, Safina will take on another Russian in the quarters when she meets former '04 U.S. Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kuznetsova (8) cameback from a set down to beat ninth seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Also moving into a quarterfinal match-up were defending champ Justine Henin-Hardenne (5) and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. Hardenne eliminated '04 winner Anastasia Myskina (10) 6-1, 6-4 while Groenefeld (13) defeated Gisela Dulko (32) 6-3, 6-4.

Second seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters was also into the final eight, posting a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Daniela Hantuchova (15). She'll await the winner of two-time runner up Martina Hingis (12) and Shahar Peer (31). The two were tied a set apiece before darkness suspended play. The match will resume on Court 1 later today.