Francesca Schiavone eases into French Open 4th round

Paris: Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone easily beat 13th-seeded Marion Bartoli of France 6-2, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Saturday.

The Italian won at Roland Garros three years ago but is unseeded at this year's tournament. She broke Bartoli's serve five times overall and had 31 winners, compared to just nine for 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli.

Bartoli won a long sixth game in the second set to reduce the deficit to 5-1 but Schiavone clinched victory on her serve when she hit a powerful forehand winner from the back of the court.

The 32-year-old Schiavone won her first title in nearly a year, and sixth of her career, with victory at the Grand Prix SAR final in Marrakech in April.