Corretja on final course

Last year’s losing finalist Alex Corretja powered into the French Open men's quarter--finals at the expense of Mariano Zabaleta today.

Bidding to reach the Roland Garros final for the third time, the Spaniard won 6-3 6-2 7-5 to become the first man past the last 16 stage.

While he strolled through the opening two sets, the third proved more difficult and Argentinian Zabaleta held a 5-2 lead.

But that was an advantage of just one service break and Zabaleta lost five games in succession to succumb to defeat.

As 18th seed, Corretja has had a difficult path to the last eight, having come past last year’s Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement, US veteran Todd Martin and big-serving Czech Bohdan Ulihrach.