Serena Williams Advances to 4th Round

PARIS - Serena Williams likes to play on clay, and that's one thing that sets her apart from most of the other Americans playing professional tennis. Another difference is the eight-time Grand Slam champion is still in this year's French Open. Williams advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros on Friday by beating Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4.

"For me, it's just another Slam," said Williams, who won her only French Open title in 2002. "I don't make it a big deal."

Serena's sister, Venus Williams, is one of 18 American men and women who have come and gone from the tournament. She lost to fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Justine Henin, trying to win her second straight French Open title and third overall, also won, and top-ranked Roger Federer eased into the fourth round of the men's draw by beating Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-3, 6-0.

On Saturday, Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo were to play, while two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt and Novak Djokovic also were scheduled to take the court.

Despite her relatively routine win over Krajicek, Serena Williams was still concerned about her game.

"I didn't think I played well at all," she said. "I'm trying not to peak too soon, but at some point I need to start playing better."

Federer is playing just about as well as anyone, but the 10-time Grand Slam champion could face some familiar opponents if he gets past No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny and makes it to the quarterfinals.

No. 29 Filippo Volandri could be waiting in the last eight, and No. 19 Guillermo Canas is a possible semifinal opponent. Both Volandri and Canas beat Federer earlier this year, giving him three of his four losses this season.

"I'm just happy that things are going well," said Federer, who also lost to Nadal this year. "I haven't lost a set (at the French Open). I'm feeling well, anyway."

Volandri, who beat Federer in the third round of the Rome Masters, upset No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-4, 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Canas defeated Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-2, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 15 David Nalbandian also advanced. They will face each other in the fourth round.

"I've played against him repeatedly," said Nalbandian, a two-time French Open semifinalist who eliminated Gael Monfils 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5). "I've won, and from time to time, I've lost."

Actually, Nalbandian leads Davydenko 5-2, including a win in the quarterfinals of last year's French Open.

Marion Bartoli, an 18th-seeded Frenchwoman who will make her first fourth-round appearance in 22 Grand Slam tournaments, upset No. 13 Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-2, 6-4.

"I'm not really surprised, because I don't have a feeling of playing above my level," said Bartoli, who will face Jankovic in the next round. "I don't think I'm over-performing."

Also, No. 6 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic beat 27th-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4, 6-4, and No. 20 Sybille Bammer of Austria defeated 16th-seeded Li Na of China 6-4, 6-3. No. 10 Dinara Safina of Russia, No. 12 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and No. 19 Tathiana Garbin of Italy also advanced.