Sharapova advances at French Open

PARIS, May 31 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Maria Sharapova beat Karin Knapp in straight sets Saturday to advance to the women's fourth round at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris.

The heavily favored Russian shook off a first set tie-breaker 7-6 (7-4) to capture the second set 6-0.

"I definitely became a lot more aggressive and didn't give her too many easy balls," she said about her second set dominance. "I kind of forgot what it felt like to finish in two sets even though I still managed to play for two hours out there."

Sharapova double faulted nine times on her serve in the first set.

The three-time champion in major tournaments needs the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

The Italian Knapp, the 32nd seed, was playing in a final for just the second time in her six-year career.