Tennis
Kirilenko beats Mattek-Sands in French 4th round
Tennis

Kirilenko beats Mattek-Sands in French 4th round

Published Jun. 3, 2013 10:35 a.m. ET

Russia's Maria Kirilenko reached her first French Open quarterfinal by ending the surprising run of 67th-ranked American Bethanie Mattek-Sands with a 7-5, 6-4 victory Monday.

The 12th-seeded Kirilenko lost in the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2010 and 2011.

She trailed 4-1 at the start against Mattek-Sands, who stunned 2011 French Open champion Li Na in the second round.

But Mattek-Sands' lead began slipping away, and while ahead 5-4, she asked for medical attention. From there, Kirilenko won four games in a row.

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Kirilenko, who is engaged to two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, also was visited by a trainer, getting a massage on her right shoulder in the second set.

Kirilenko held on, though, and faces two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka next.

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