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After that win for Kanepi, we’re going to call it a day. Thankfully for our nerves Andy Murray’s victory wasn’t nearly as tense as a couple of the others this evening. A big pat on the back for the Scot...well maybe not that big, who knows what damage we’ll do. He’ll be back in action on Monday. Enjoy your Saturday night.
20.12 Match update Kanepi works herself to 40-15 and two more match points.This time her nerve finally holds and she takes the match 6-1, 6-7, 6-3. They’ll be dancing in the streets of Tallinn...if they’re still awake!
20.11pm Match update Kanepi hurls her racquet to the clay in anger after Wozniacki moves to advantage and then closes out the game. It’s now 5-3 in the final set. The Estonian has another chance to serve for the game...but she’s done that five times already without success!
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20.10pm Kanepi storms to a 30-0 lead and looks good for a break. Amazingly, she again collapses under the pressure and sees Wozniacki peg her back to take the game to deuce. The Dane has two chances of her own to win the game, but such is the nature of this contest she too stumbles. Kanepi works a fourth match point...but again she can only find the net. Will there ever be an end to this game?
19.57pm Match update Kanepi squanders a third match point by double-falting, is taken to deuce and eventually loses the game. It’s now 5-2 in the decider. Surely Wozniacki can’t mount another stirring comeback?
19.53pm Having fought her way back into the match with a stirring performance in the second set, Caroline Wozniacki is again on the ropes. She’s down 5-1 in the decider with Kanepi serving to seal victory.
19.50pm Match update Granollers has done it. After an epic showdown with Mathieu he’s finally overcome the Frenchman 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-1. The Spaniard will face compatriot David Ferrer in round four.
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19.43pmRafael Nadal will face Juan Monaco in round four after the Argentine won in five sets against Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. On court 1 another game is going the distance with Marcel Granollers serving for victory in the fifth set against home favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu.
@neilharmantimes: GSM Nadal 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Four is the most games he has given away in a single set in three rounds so far #awesome
19.14pm Match update Having looked dead and buried at 5-2 down and facing match point, Caroline Wozniacki has shown real guts to get back into her match against Estonian Kaia Kanepi. Benefiting from some wayward shots by her opponent, the Dane has won the second set on a tie-break ensuring a late finish on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
19.04pm Match update Rafael Nadal is into the fourth round at Roland Garros. Eduardo Schwank was no match for the Spaniard who saw out the game in straight sets 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Next up he’ll face either Juan Monaco or Milos Raonic who are currently in a tense fifth set on court 2.
18.25pm Match update There’s drama in the match between Caroline Wozniacki and Kaia Kanepi on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The Dane is complaining that a winner by Kanepi has been called in, despite television replays showing the ball falling nearly a foot long. The umpire has checked the mark, but the wrong one, and upheld the decision. It gives the Estonian an early and vital break in the second. After a five minute pause it looks as though Wozniacki, her annoyance falling on deaf ears, is going to accept the decision. A set down, she’s in real trouble.
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18.15pm Match update Rafael Nadal has sealed the second set against Eduardo Schwank. It was a slightly more competitive affair than the first, but at 6-3 still comprehensive. It’s his 41st consecutive winning set on clay - that’s some record.
@neilharmantimes: Could be no better match in prospect in 4th rd than Murray v Gasquet. Absolutely mouth watering match up
17.50pm Match update On court number 2 Juan Monaco and Milos Raonic are into a fourth set. The Canadian leads two sets to one after winning the third, as he did the first, on a tie break.
17.44pm Having sailed through the first set 6-1 against Argentine Eduardo Schwank, Rafael Nadal appears to be in ominously imperious form. He’s serving at a break up in the second and looking like he means business.
17.22pm Match update In the women’s side of the draw Petra Kvitova, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Varvara Lepchenko, Klara Zakopalova and Yaroslava Shvedova will all be in round four.
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17.21pm Match update A few results to run through from Paris. Andy Murray will face Richard Gasquet in the fourth round after the Frenchman overcame Tommy Haas 6-7, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. Serbian Janko Tipsarevic has made light work of Julien Benneteau winning in straight sets 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 and Spanish twelfth seed Nicolas Almagro will also been in the next round after a convincing deconstruction of Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
16.19pm Match update As expected Sharapova has eased through in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 against Peng. The French Open is the only Grand Slam title to evade the Russian so far, perhaps 2012 will be her year - she certainly looks to be in fine fettle.
16.07pm Sharapova is making light work of her third round clash with Peng. The Chinese player just can’t cope with the power of the three-time Grand Slam winner. Despite getting on the board in the second set, at 4-1 down it looks as though the Russian will almost certainly be in fourth round.
15.53pm Match update Maria Sharapova is in action against China’s Shuai Peng on the court Philippe Chatrier and all seems to be going well for the Russian - she’s a break and a set up at the moment. The game which will decide who faces Andy Murray is also underway. Tommy Haas has won the first set on a tie-break against Richard Gasquet, although the Frenchman is a break up in the second.
@neilharmantimes: Movement good, grabbed right knee twice, smiled a couple of times, struck ball well, hit forehand better. Into last 16 v Gasquet or Haas
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15.38pm Match update A business-like performance by Murray this afternoon; he was never really troubled at any point. Reaching the second week of a Grand Slam once again he’ll now face either Germany’s Tommy Haas or home favourite Richard Gasquet in round four. After the drama of his fitness struggles in the last round, it was as routine a match as he could have hoped for.
15.36pm Match update A sloppy game by Murray allows Giraldo to hold. At 5-4 up, the Scot will now serve for the match. It’s been a very comfortable and professional performance. The match passes the two hour mark just as he reaches 30-0. Another error by the Colombian brings up three match points. The first is wasted. The second though sees Murray ease his opponent around the court before a fine shot closes out the game. Murray wins in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
15.30pm Match update Murray really is in a commanding position now. Leading two sets to love and serving at a break up in the third he should have no problems closing out this game. Taking the ball early he moves to a 30-0 lead, before Giraldo wildly fires a big shot long to bring up 40-0. A big serve is returned by the Colombian, only for the Scot to punish the short ball with another winner. 5-3 up and he only needs one more game to make the fourth round.
15.26pm Match update New balls and a change of racquet precedes the seventh game of the third set. Having taken a lot of pace off his first serve at 30-15, Giraldo gives Murray an opening and the Scot levels the game. Momentum on his side the boy from Dunblane brings up a break point, but his opponent shuts the door with another great shot. The Scot has two more opportunities though and on the third break point takes advantage to move ahead 4-3 in the third set.
15.17pm Giraldo is going for broke and with some big shots takes a 3-2 lead. Murray looks a bit miffed, or maybe the look on his face is one of discomfort? A wipe of the towel and he’s 30-0 up in a jiffy with his ninth ace of the game. Another love game, his sixth in total, makes it 3-3.
15.15pm Match update An easy hold by Giraldo is followed by a solid game by Murray. The Scot looks as though he wants this game done and dusted inside two hours. It’s 2-2 in the third.
15.06pm Murray’s eighth ace of the game brings up his fifth winning service game to love. After the drama of the opening game of the their set, it’s a clinical reaction by the Brit. 1-1.
14.53pm Match update A see-saw game sees Giraldo ease to a 30-0 lead, Murray hit back to make it 30-30 before both men trade blows at deuce. The South American sees a late call overturned at advantage and then Murray amazingly returns the game to deuce with some dextrous defensive racquet control. A Giraldo smash from the baseline again gives him advantage, before Murray forces another error from the Colombian. There are six deuces in the game before the Scot squeezes out a break point, only for Giraldo to power home another winner. After a seventh deuce, the Scot finally folds to go 1-0 down in the third set.
14.42pm Match update A passive Murray loses the first point of his service game, recovers after a long exchange and unforced error by Giraldo, only to hesitate again and concede a 15-30 lead. A poor shot by the Colombian pushes the game to 30-30, but he hits an epic forehand from the baseline on the twentieth stroke of the rally to bring up his first break point. The court opens up for Giraldo to seal the break, but Murray gets lucky as his opponent, aiming down the line, hits the net. Murray recovers his composure, hits a great serve and in seconds is serving for the set. The first moment of crisis is overcome as another deep serve is only returned into the net by Giraldo. The Scot takes the second set 6-4.
14.36pm Match update Giraldo is annoyed with himself. He swipes his racquet at the clay after a failed backhand slice hits the net at 15-30. Despite the frustration, it looks as though the Colombian holds with an ace, only for the umpire to overrule the decision. He eventually overcomes the Scot to close the deficit again, but Murray at 5-4 up will now serve for a two set lead.
14.33pm He may be under pressure but Giraldo’s double-handed backhands down the line have been a thing of beauty - he’s hit three unstoppable winners in the match so far. Murray isn’t particularly flustered though. Yet to face a break point he clinically closes out another game to move into a 5-3 lead.
14.31pm Match update Murray isn’t wasting time today. It’s a procession of glorious shots as he moves to a commanding 4-2 position. He celebrates with a change of racquet, only for Giraldo to smash home his second ace of the game to take a 15-0 lead. A drop shot exchange at the net sees the Colombian move to 30-0, before two forced errors by Murray helps his opponent close out to love. It’s 4-3 to the Scot in the second set.
14.20pm Match update Murray works a little opening on the Giraldo serve at 15-30 before a mistake by the Colombian brings up two break points for the Brit. The Colombian saves the first, but a succession of powerful Murray forehands pressures his opponent into a further poor shot. He breaks to take a 3-2 lead in the second set.
14.15pm Having won 22 straight points on serve, Murray double faults for the first time and then loses a second point in quick succession. At 30-30 he’s back in the groove with another powerful effort, before a drop shot leaves Giraldo free to arrow the ball down the line to bring up deuce. A more competitive game, but the Scot still wins through to make it 2-2.
14.11pm Match update Despite an impressive show of defensive stubborness from the baseline, Murray goes down to love in Giraldo’s second service game of the set. Meanwhile, Li Na has fought back against young American McHale to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
14.05pm Both men have hit over 80 per cent of their first serves in the first ten games. Giraldo bounces back from losing the first set to take a 1-0 lead, before Murray hits four successive aces to level it again 1-1. Four successive aces! You don’t see that everyday...
14.00pm Match update Giraldo wins his service to make it 3-5, but seems to have no answer to Murray’s power when the Scot is on serve. 15 consecutive points on his serve, brings up three set points and the world number 4 makes no mistake to close it out 6-3. A great start.
13.55pm First blood to Murray as the Scot breaks Giraldo and then follows it up with his twelfth consecutive winning point on serve to extend his lead to 5-2. The Scot looks like he means business today. He’s won 100 per cent of points on his second serve so far and looked very consistent on his first.
13.46pm Match update A confident start by the Colombian sees him ease through another service game to level. Murray, wasting no time, wins to love and steals to a 3-2 lead in double quick time. He looks very comfortable at the moment in the Paris heat.
13.41pm It’s going with serve on Court 1. Giraldo wins his first service game to love, before Murray strikes back with confidence to move 2-1 ahead. The Scot has hit 10 of his 11 first serves in so far - if he keeps that up he shouldn’t struggle this afternoon.
13.35pm Match update No holding back from Murray on his first serve, he takes the first game with a deft drop shot to go 1-0 up.
13.34pm Li Na has levelled it up against Christina McHale taking the second set 6-2.
13.28pm Match update Andy Murray, sporting a snazzy red and grey short / t-shirt combination, is warming up now on Court 1 and appears to be moving perfectly freely. Giraldo, his opponent, overcame Bernard Tomic in straight sets in the last round and should prove a lively presence.
@BritishTennis: Andy Murray on his back injury: “It feels much better than it did a couple of days ago”
@neilharmantimes: And so it is Lepchenko who prevails 8-6 in the third. Puts her in prime Olympic selection spot for USA (she’s from Uzbekistan)
13.12pm Match update We have a winner! Having squandered three break points Schiavone’s resistance is finally broken. Lepchenko smashes for glory on match point to record the biggest victory of her career. She was made to work exceptionally hard, but nobody will begrudge her the 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 win.
13.08pm It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but finally an end is in sight. Lepchenko now leads 7-6 and is serving for the match.
@neilharmantimes: I wonder how Andy Murray is dealing with this women’s match? It is driving the British press nuts
13.04pm Match update It’s 6-6 in the decider on Court 1, Schiavone and Lepchenko seemingly determined to make Andy Murray wait for his Round 3 showdown with Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo.
13.00pm Schiavone holds her nerve to take a 6-5 lead and the pressure is again firmly on her opponent. Meanwhile on the Suzanne Lenglen court, 20-year-old American Christina McHale has taken the first set 6-3 against China’s Li Na.
12.55pm Match update You’ve got to hand it to Schiavone, she has shown real grit in the last ten minutes. Sparked back into action by a solid hold in her own service game, she has broken Lepchenko to level the game 5-5. This match is far from over after all...
12.45pm A phenomenal service game to love sees Lepchenko take a 5-3 lead. It looks as though an upset is on the cards as Schiavone, the 2010 champion, serves to stay in the match.
12.40pm Match update Sensing blood Lepchenko has tightened the screw on her Italian opponent breaking once again to take a much deserved 4-3 lead. The momentum is certainly with the unseeded 26-year-old.
12.25pm Schiavone will be livid. Serving at 3-1 up in the decider she has again been broken by Lepchenko.The Uzbek-born American just won’t lie down and with another opportunity to level the game, could yet steal through to the next round.
12.00pm Match update Some neat tennis from Lepchenko has seen her take control, breaking Schiavone, then holding serve to level the match at 1-1. The winner will play Petra Kvitova who put that middling second set to bed by winning the third 6-1. Murray will have to wait a little longer.
@neilharmantimes: Decided to go for the famous RG hotdog today, going to be a long day
11.55am Match update The ailing Mikhail Youzhny has been put out of his misery by a rampant David Ferrer - the Spaniard winning without almost breaking sweat - 6-0, 6-2, 6-2.
11.40pm A result from the men’s doubles as Ivan Dodig (Cro) and Marcelo Melo (Bra) have brushed aside the eighth seeds Jurgen Melzer (Aut) and Philipp Petzschner (Ger), 6-3 6-1. A right old battle going on at Court Two as Schiavone and Lepchenko go with serve in the second at 3-3.
Looking good for Kvitova now who has raced into a 3-0 lead against Bratchikova.
11.20am Match update Bit of a surprise on Court One where Petra Kvitova, who won the first set against Nina Bratchikova so confidently, has just lost the second 6-4.
11.10am After a slightly torturous final game where Varvara Lepchenko put up a terrific struggle, Francesca Schiavone, the former champion, has taken the first set 6-3. Meanwhile, it’s not getting any better for Youzhny, who has just lost the second set 6-2 to Ferrer and is taking out his frustration by writing slogans in the clay.
10.55am Match update The seventh day is winding up nicely. Petra Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion, has just taken the first set 6-2 against Russia’s Nina Bratchikova while David Ferrer has blown away the challenge of Mikhail Youzhny, winning the opener 6-0 in which the Russian took only six points.
@neilharmantimes: Eva Asderaki calls wrong score after two points of Schivaone/Lepchenko. Could be one of those days
10.30 am: Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the seventh day of the French Open. Top of the fixture list is Andy Murray, hopefully recovered from the back spasms that blighted his second round win, as he takes on Santiago Giraldo. Rafael Nadal, the undoubted favourite who is celebrating his birthday today, is up against Eduardo Schwank of Argentina while Li Na, the women’s defending champion plays Christina McHale second on Court Suzanne Lenglen