By Bill Barclay
PARIS, June 3 - Defending champion Justine
Henin-Hardenne avenged one of her most disappointing defeats on
Saturday when she dispatched Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-4 6-0 to
reach the French Open fourth round.
The Belgian was also defending her crown in 2004 when she
lost in a second round upset to Garbin in straight sets but the
fifth seed was in an unforgiving mood in fresh, bright
conditions this time.
After taking a tight first set by breaking decisively for
5-4, Henin-Hardenne outclassed the 28-year-old Italian with her
variation and superior use of the court in the second set. The
Belgian sealed victory with a neat forehand volley.
She will face 2004 champion Anastasia Myskina of Russia in
the fourth round. The 10th seed, who has talked about retiring
if her form does not improve this year, skipped past Serbian
Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-3.
Men's defending champion Rafael Nadal will try to celebrate
his 20th birthday with a 56th consecutive claycourt victory
when he faces French hopeful Paul-Henri Mathieu for a place in
the last 16.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the 14th seed, plays Slovakia's
Dominik Hrbaty for the right to face the winner of Nadal's
match.
Like Nadal, James Blake will have to quell French fervour
on centre court. The last American in the men's singles plays
19-year-old Gael Monfils.
Women's second seed Kim Clijsters tackles Spain's Anabel
Medina Garrigues and 12th seed Martina Hingis faces Ivana
Lisjak of Croatia.