JOIN USThunderclaps, rain delays, an inspired home favourite roared on by a partisan crowd -- it was all in a day's work for reigning champion Serena Williams as the world number one roared into the second week of the French Open on Saturday.
The 34-year-old American needed all her experience and tenacity to fight off France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 7-6(10) in an absorbing contest to set up a last-16 clash with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina who beat 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-4.
There was further French disappointment later when popular sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire against unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis leading 5-2.
Tsonga, who has come closer than anyone to emulating Yannick Noah, the last home man to win the French Open in 1983, walked off with tears in his eyes after appearing to hurt his knee.
Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, last year's semi-finalist Timea Bacsinszky and unseeded Kazakh Yulia Putintseva all booked their fourth-round spots before the rains came.
As did rising Austrian Dominic Thiem, the 13th seed, who continued his fine claycourt season to beat German teenager Alexander Zverev 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 6-3.
There was tension in the air as 21-times grand slam champion Williams stepped on court to face the hard-hitting Mladenovic for the first time in her long career.
Everything seemed to be going to plan as Williams took the opening set despite some impressive play from her opponent who used the drop shot to great effect throughout.
As the sky darkened and fat rain drops began landing on the clay late in the second Williams seemed anxious to finish the contest but Mladenovic stayed strong and forced a tiebreak just at the moment the heavens opened.
When the contest resumed two and a half hours later Williams made a hash of the first few points and trailed 2-5.
She recovered to lead 6-5 but made an ugly mess of an overhead on match point, then on her second chance to close it out she walloped a forehand long after pouncing on a loopy Mladenovic drop shot that sat up begging.
Williams saved a set point with a swing volley before another match point came and went but she could finally produce her victory roar when her opponent sent a forehand wide at 10-11.
"It was very difficult today she played really well," Williams, bidding for a fourth French Open title, said.
"She forced me to play my best tennis today."
Spain's ever-reliable David Ferrer reached the last 16 for the sixth consecutive year by beating compatriot Feliciano Lopez.
Paes Hingis through
India’s Leander Paes and his Swiss partner Martina Hingis moved a step closer to their first French Open crown together as they breezed into the mixed doubles quarterfinals after dispatching fourth seeds Yaroslav Shvedova and Florin Mergea 2-6, 7-5, 10-6.
Results (Prefix denotes seeding): Men: third round: 13-Dominic Thiem (Aut) bt Alexander Zverev (Ger) 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; Ernests Gulbis (Lat) bt 6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra) 2-5 (retd); 11-David Ferrer (Esp) bt 21-Feliciano Lopez (Esp) 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-1.
Women: 8-Timea Bacsinszky (Sui) bt Pauline Parmentier (Fra) 6-4, 6-2; 18-Elina Svitolina (Ukr) bt Ana Ivanovic (Srb) 6-4, 6-4; Yulia Putintseva (Kaz) bt Karin Knapp (Ita) 6-1, 6-1; 12-Carla Suarez Navarro (Esp) bt 22-Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; 9-Venus Williams (US) bt Alize Cornet (Fra) 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-0; 1-Serena Williams (US) bt 26-Kristina Mladenovic (Fra) 6-4, 7-6(10).