PARIS, May 30: Former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne soaked up the full force of Svetlana Kuznetsova’s armoury to stay in the hunt for a second French Open crown as both 2004 men’s finalists were beaten on Monday.

Spanish sharp-shooter Rafael Nadal overcame Sebastien Grosjean and a noisily partisan French crowd to remain on track to become the first man in 23 years to win the claycourt grand slam on his debut.

Henin-Hardenne survived two match points to see off U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova 7-6 4-6 7-5 and set up a quarter-final against Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova.

“It’s a kind of miracle,” Henin, the 2003 champion, said. “I managed to stay in the match even though I was not able to play my best tennis.”

While the fancied Belgian 10th seed survived, two Argentine favourites for the men’s title were knocked out - holder Gaston Gaudio and the man he beat for the 2004 title, Guillermo Coria.

Fifth seed Gaudio, who had not dropped a set on his way to the last 16, was beaten 2-6 6-4 7-6 5-7 6-4 by Spain’s David Ferrer and eighth seed Coria was outhit by Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 2-6 6-3 7-6 6-2.

Ferrer, who had trailed 4-0 in the fifth set, will meet compatriot Nadal next after the brawny 18-year-old beat Grosjean 6-4 3-6 6-0 6-3.

“I knew I could come back,” Ferrer said. “In the end I just let my shots go and everything worked out.

“That’s what tennis is all about. Anything can happen. Until the end of the match, you can’t really say it’s done.”

The French crowd had halted play for nine minutes early in the second set of Nadal’s match on Sunday, booing and jeering over a controversial line call.

The fans behaved on Monday and witnessed more great tennis from the Spanish prodigy who won the first three games to wrap up the third set.

The fourth was tight until Grosjean dropped serve by netting a backhand in the eighth game. Nadal served for the match and Grosjean hit a backhand wide on the second match point.

Davydenko will play either Spain’s Tommy Robredo or compatriot and third seed Marat Safin.

The improving Russian’s victory over Coria propelled him into the quarterfinals for the second straight grand slam after his run in Melbourne in January.

Sharapova paid a fleeting visit to Roland Garros on day eight of the claycourt grand slam, needing just three games to polish off Spain’s Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2 6-3 in their rain-interrupted match held over from Sunday.

“I guess it was good just to have a good night’s sleep,” said the 18-year-old who is not afraid of Henin-Hardenne.

“I think I’m getting better and better. I’ve said this before, if people underestimate me on clay then they’ll be surprised,” she grinned.

“If the conditions are going to be heavier, a lot of the points are going to be long.

“I feel fit enough to be able to do that. It’s just a matter of mentally going out there and doing it.”

Sharapova’s tactics spell bad news for Henin-Hardenne who has only recently returned after a knee injury, and a virus which affected her badly last year.

“My body is suffering,” she said. “I hope I can recover in time for my next match.”

Men’s ninth seed Guillermo Canas can have no such concerns. The Argentine qualified for the quarterfinals without playing when his opponent, German Nicolas Kiefer, pulled out with a sore neck.

Kiefer, the 28th seed, was hampered by the injury in the fourth round when he took four sets to move past Russia’s Igor Andreev. Canas will play Mariano Puerta or Jose Acasuso in an all-Argentine quarterfinal.

Monday’s fourth round rersults

Men’s singles: Guillermo Canas (ARG ) bt Nicolas Kiefer (GER) walkover; Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3; David Ferrer (ESP) bt Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 5-7; Nikolay Davydenko (RUS ) bt Guillermo Coria (ARG) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2; Mariano Puerta (ARG) bt Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-4, 6-1, 6-1

Women’s singles: Maria Sharapova (RUS) bt Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-2, 6-3; Ana Ivanovic (SEM) bt Francesca Schiavone (ITA ) 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3; Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 7-5.—Agencies