Maria Sharapova struggled again in her Grand Slam tournament comeback at the French Open, needing three sets and a few extra games to reach the third round with a 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 victory over 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova yesterday.

Again playing with tape on her troublesome right shoulder, the unseeded Sharapova hung on to join top-seeded Dinara Safina and defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the next round.

"Obviously, I am spending a little bit more time out there than I want to, but I think I'm learning so many new things, as well," Sharapova said. "I think this was a great match where I had to fight my way through many, many challenges. And I did."

On the men's side, four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal and third-seeded Andy Murray advanced to the third round, but two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin and Fabrice Santoro each lost in their final French Open.

Safin, who has said he will retire after this season, took wild-card entry Josselin Ouanna of France to five sets before falling 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8.

His sister Safina easily beat 18-year-old Russian qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko 6-1, 6-1 and Ivanovic defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1, 6-2.

Runner-up

"Pretty good start for the tournament," said Safina, who lost in the Australian Open final and was the runner-up at Roland Garros last year. "I just played a good game today, good enough to win."

Venus Williams lost the first set to Lucie Safarova 7-6 (5) before play was suspended because of darkness.

Nadal, who is trying to become the first player to win five straight French Open titles, stretched his French Open record to 30-0 by beating Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.