The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Paris

Svetlana Kuznetsova faced only one break point and

beat fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-1 Saturday in the third round of the French Open.

Kuznetsova, seeded fourth, hit five aces and lost only five points on her first serve. She was the runner-up to Justine Henin at Roland Garros in 2006.

Kuznetsova will next play No. 16 Victoria Azarenka, who beat No. 18 Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-1. Azarenka feasted on Schiavone's weak second serve, winning 23 of those 28 points.

Azarenka has lost only six games in three matches this week.

In the completion of a match suspended because of darkness, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic beat No. 28 Dominika Cibulkova 7-5, 6-3. Jankovic led 4-2 in the second set when play was halted Friday.

Russia's Dinara Safina, seeded 13th, defeated Zheng Jie 6-2, 7-5.

On Friday, both Williams sisters were eliminated from the tournament, as Venus lost to Flavia Pennetta, 7-5, 6-3, and Serena was ousted by Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-4.

"It wasn't a good day for our family," Venus said.

It wasn't a good day for U.S. tennis, either. The double defeats meant that for the first time in the Open Era, there will be no American woman in the fourth round at Roland Garros.

Both losses were unsightly. Serena shanked overheads, sprayed volleys and failed to convert six break points. Venus lost serve six times and committed 29 unforced errors, many after being worn down in long rallies by Pennetta.

The Italian closed out the victory with a forehand winner at 9:47 p.m. Williams said she never asked the chair umpire to suspend the match because of darkness.

"I just kept playing," she said.

Why didn't she ask to stop?

"Because I didn't," she said.

Her sister was equally subdued after her loss. Explaining her demeanor at a postmatch news conference, Serena said, "I just don't want to be here."

Among those still hanging around were top-seeded Maria Sharapova and No. 2 Ana Ivanovic, who both won Friday.

Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal played for the fourth consecutive day in the rain-interrupted tournament and improved to 24-0 at Roland Garros by defeating Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3, 6-1.

No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic beat Floridian Wayne Odesnik 7-5, 6-4, 6-2, leaving Robby Ginepri as the only American in either singles draw.

Ginepri was to play Florent Serra on Saturday. Top-ranked Roger Federer was to face the last player to beat him at Wimbledon - in 2002 - Mario Ancic.

The women's draw lost plenty of star power with the elimination of the Williams sisters. They have combined to win 14 Grand Slam titles but were beaten by two tour veterans who have yet to reach a major quarterfinal.

"It's never fun," Venus said. "I never get used to losing. I don't think anyone gets used to losing. And if they do, then maybe it's time to retire."

Serena Williams, who played the day's first match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, converted only one of seven break-point chances and was 0-for-5 in the second set. She repeatedly set up points but failed to finish them, losing 14 of 21 at the net.

"There are a lot of things I would try to do different, but you can't rewind time," Williams said.