It's all about getting the job done for Sharapova.

Byline: Tom Allnutt

DEFENDING champion Maria Sharapova made a potentially tricky third-round encounter look easy as she beat Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-3 6-4 at the French Open.

Sharapova needed three sets to beat Stosur when the pair met in last year's round of 16 but the Russian enjoyed a much simpler passage this time, winning in one hour and 40 minutes.

The victory wraps up a successful first week for the number two seed, who has reached three consecutive finals at Roland Garros and now plays Czech Lucie Safarova for a place in the quarter-finals.

"This week has been about just getting the job done," Sharapova said.

"The conditions in the first match and today have been quite tough.

"And I think in those moments it's always tough to really assess the level, because as much as you want to improve and find some sort of perfection, it's really tough because you never quite know where the direction will be.

"Especially with the spin of my opponent today, I just had to be steady and consistent, take my opportunities, and I did that quite well."

Sharapova has been suffering from a cold in her matches this week and she was seen coughing again during her contest on Philippe Chatrier.

"I'm getting there. I might not sound like it, but I am," Sharapova said.

"I have never felt like that on the court playing a grand slam, so this is kind of new.

"I'm just trying to do the best that I can with the circumstances."

Safarova, who beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-3 7-6 (7/2) in round three, has lost her last five matches against Sharapova. The Czech came close to winning when the pair met in Stuttgart last year, but was narrowly beaten in a final set tie-break.

"I think the last time was a really tough match in Stuttgart last year where she was serving for the match," Sharapova said.

"I know I have a tough one ahead of me. Left-handers are always tricky. It will be my first one of the tournament.

"I will definitely need to be ready, but I know what I have to do. I just have to get it done."

FIVE YEARS OF FEDERER ROGER Federer suggested he could play on for another five years after the Swiss eased into the French Open last 16 with a straight-sets win over Damir Dzumhur.

It is the 11th consecutive year that Federer has made it past the third round at Roland Garros and the number two seed was untroubled as he won 6-4 6-3 6-2. The 33-year-old last lifted a major trophy at Wimbledon in 2012 but he has been in good form this season and is yet to drop a set in Paris.

"Would winning a grand slam make me play longer? Possibly," Federer said. "I may stop the following day or I may go on for another five years, I don't know. What I can tell you is that if I win Wimbledon or another grand slam, I'll be extremely happy so it won't make a difference."

The 17-time grand slam champion will take confidence from an accomplished third-round performance.

"My own game was good," Federer said.

"It took me a little bit of time to get into it, to understand how is he serving, plus he was serving a few of the lines in the beginning."

CAPTION(S):

Maria Sharapova <Bin action during her victory over Sam Stosur yesterday