Sharapova and Henin set up a third-round showdown by winning matches suspended overnight because of darkness. Sharapova finished off Kirsten Flipkens, 6-3, 6-3, and Henin beat Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 6-3.
A schedule backlog caused by rain created a parade of champions on the sixth day of the tournament. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Venus and Serena Williams were among those who advanced.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad hereNow the champions start playing each other. Henin has a 6-3 record against Sharapova.
“We’ve had some great matches in the past,” Sharapova said. “I’ve had some tough losses and great wins. I look forward to this one.”
Sharapova won their most recent meeting in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Australian Open. That was Henin’s last Grand Slam match before she retired.
Now the Belgian is mounting a career comeback and playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2007.
“It’s going to be an interesting match,” Henin said. “Comes very early, of course, third round, but I expect a big fight as we always had in the past. It’s going to be very exciting to play her again in the second career. The motivation is going to be really high just to keep going in this tournament.”
Seeded 22nd, Henin has French Open winning streaks of 23 matches and 39 sets. The No. 12-seeded Sharapova is seeking the only Grand Slam title she has yet to win, and she said she’s becoming more comfortable on clay.
“I really do enjoy it,” the Russian said. “I’ve learned a lot playing on it the last few years. It doesn’t affect me as it did many years ago, because I knew I couldn’t last quite as long as I feel that I can now.”
While Henin and Sharapova won quickly, Serena Williams and Nadal did as well, taking the court on a sunny, cool morning. Both were done before lunch.
The top-ranked Williams won nine consecutive games and advanced to the third round by beating Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-1. Four-time champion Nadal lost serve only once and beat Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Williams won in 55 minutes and said such a rout can help her in later matches.
“I can learn a lot, like, ’OK, what am I doing today? How can I get them to all be like that?”’ she said. “Those are the questions that I ask and I try to answer.”
French Open
May 23-June 6, Paris Sharapova, Henin advance to showdownFederer, Nadal keep on rolling through tourneyTennis.com: Record vs. Nadal is Federer's failingVenus Williams' tennis dress cheers lace industry Vote: What do you think of Venus' outfit?Tennis.com: Nadal will win title | Henin alsoCicma: It'll be Nadal-Federer | Serena vs. HeninInteractive: Top men, women to watchFrench Open schedules, scoreboard Venus Williams reached the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2006 by beating No. 26 Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-4. Once again wearing the lacy corset that has created the tournament’s biggest buzz, Williams hit six aces and lost only four points on her first serve.Serena and Venus are seeded 1-2 and wouldn’t meet until the final.
“We’re having so much fun at this time of my career, and you know, we just feel good,” Serena said. “We’re doing the best we can, and we’re enjoying every moment.”
Russian qualifier Anastasia Pivovarova, ranked 187th, upset No. 25-seeded Zheng Jie of China 6-4, 6-3. Unseeded American Jill Craybas lost to No. 29 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-1.
Serena Williams, bidding for her first title at Roland Garros since 2002, played aggressively and still committed only four unforced errors to 20 for Goerges. Williams often moved two steps inside the baseline to smack returns, and she won 15 of 19 points on Goerges’ weak second serves.
Williams held every service game and sprinted forward several times to finish off points with swinging volleys.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion has won 41 consecutive second-round matches in major tournaments since losing in that round in her Grand Slam debut in 1998 to her older sister.
Also on NBCSports.com
PBT: Magic (finally) find their form | Technical talk
NFL: Don't expect magic to end for Favre, Vikings
Baseball: Up close and personal with Longoria
Tennis.com: Federer's legacy could take a hit
Goal.com: Few U.S. roster surprises | Breakdown
Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports
Ronaldo proud of seasonSerena, SharapovaВ withdraw from Family Circle Cup
