体坛英语新闻：Serena beats Azarenka, Djokovic, Nadal make last 16

PARIS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Serena Williams just found fire in time to beat Victoria Azarenka and reach the fourth round of the French Open here on Saturday, when both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal made through to the men's singles last 16 at Roland Garros.

Coming back from one set down and trailing 4-2 in the second set, the 19-time Grand Slam champion Williams grabbed the final six games to win her 19th rivalry over the former world No. 1 of Belarus Azarenka, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

"I was just really down and out in that match, and I just feel like, you know, I just really zeroed in," said the top seeded Williams. "I really focused and I really wanted to win that."

The 33-year-old has won here in 2002 and 2013 but exited in the second round last year and the first in 2012, comparing to her trophies elsewhere -- six apiece from the Australian Open and U.S. open, five from Wimbledon.

"She really stepped it up," said Azarenka, seeded just the 27th at this year's Roland Garros while journeying back to the top after foot surgery. "Nobody is probably harder ... for me to play against."

The intense duel also featured controversy as Azarenka was furious after being forced to replay a point while she believed she'd saved a fourth set point in the second set.

"That call was bullshit and everybody knows it," Azarenka told post-match press conference. "But Serena is a great champion. She knows how to turn it up sometimes."

Azarenka, a twice Australian Open winner as well as twice a U.S. Open finalist who lost each time to Williams, recently lost to the top-rated American in Madrid having had three match points.

In the fourth round, Williams will face the other remaining American female player, the 40th-ranked Sloane Stephens, who beat Williams at the 2013 Australian Open to reach her only major semifinal.

On men's part, world No. 1 Djokovic advanced into the last 16 with straight-set victory over Australian upstart Thanasi kokkinakis.

With the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over the 19-year-old Kokkinakis, the Serb has extended his winning streak to 25 matches on all surfaces.

No. 6 seed and defending champion Nadal also claimed a commanding victory over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, to move ominously into the fourth round.

Facing the last surviving American Jack Sock in last 16, Nadal steps closer to a quarterfinal showdown against Djokovic, should he win in next round and the 28-year-old Serb overcome local favorite Richard Gasquet.

In the last three years, there were two finals between Nadal and the Serb, who were twice beaten by the Spaniard, though.

Andy Murray slapped down the other Australian youngster on Saturday, eliminating 20-year-old Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 for his 13th consecutive win.

The victory set up a meeting of the third-seeded Scotsman with Jeremy Chardy, one of five Frenchmen into the last 16 which equals the hosts' best showing in the professional era.

Meanwhile in Saturday's play, 32-year-old veteran Zheng Jie came out the only surviver representing China at Roland Garros after Zheng Saisai and her partner Varvara Lepchenko were beaten by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-2.

The twice major winner of doubles paired up with Chan Yung-Jan of Chinese Taipei to win straight sets over Annika Beck and Sharhar Peer, before partnering with Fin Henri Kontinen to make mixed doubles quarterfinals with a 6-3, 1-6, 11-9 win over Andreja Klepac and Rajeev Ram.

Zheng is a former doubles champion of Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006 before coming into the Australian Open final with Chan earlier this year.