Serena Williams dominated for stretches against 11th-seeded Julia Goerges, playing cleanly right from the start of a 6-3, 6-4 tour de force to reach the fourth round of the French Open.
Now, then, comes the drama. Waiting for Williams as she competes in a major tournament for the first time in 16 months — and since giving birth in September — will be a familiar foe, Maria Sharapova.
The most anticipated matchup for a quarterfinal spot at Roland Garros will pit 23-time major champion Williams against five-time major champion Sharapova on Monday.
Sharapova advanced Saturday with a similarly lopsided win hours earlier, beating 2016 U.S. Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-1.
The last time Williams and Sharapova played was at the 2016 Australian Open.
"Well, it's been awhile," Sharapova said, "and I think a lot has happened in our lives for the both of us, in very different ways."
Other women moving into the fourth round included 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza, two-time French Open finalist Simona Halep, two-time major title winner Angelique Kerber and reigning U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Men's winners included 10-time champion Rafael Nadal, No. 3 Marin Cilic, No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro and No. 6 Kevin Anderson.
