Kuerten still king on French clay
 |  Kuerten is bidding for his fourth Roland Garros title. |
| | MEN'S RESULTS | Igor Andreev (Russia) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3; 28-Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) beat 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-4 6-4 6-4; Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat Thomas Enqvist (Sweden) 6-0 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4. 8-David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria) 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 7-5. 23-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Lee Hyung-taik (South Korea) 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-0 6-3. 12 -Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat 19-Martin Verkerk (Netherlands) 6-2 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1. 20-Marat Safin (Russia) beat Potito Starace (Italy) 6-7 (4-7)6-4 3-6 7-5 7-5
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PARIS, France -- Three-times French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten produced a vintage clay-court display to end top seed Roger Federer's campaign in the third round at Roland Garros.
The Brazilian, seeded 28th after two seasons plagued by injury problems, rolled over the Swiss world number one 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a performance reminiscent of his title-winning campaigns of 1997, 2000 and 2001.
"Roland Garros is like a second home to me," said the 28-year-old.
"To beat the number one player is a great achievement and the crowd's passion is special. It's a great pleasure for me to come here and play.
"It's been a love story. I didn't expect to play because of my physical condition but this is a special tournament for me. It makes me go over the limit and if it wasn't for this tournament I wouldn't be here."
Kuerten showed none of the fatigue that had seen him struggle through the opening round in five sets, breaking Federer in the opening game.
The Swiss player hit back immediately only to be broken again in the third game, losing the set in 42 minutes.
After taking the second set in 38 minutes, Kuerten took advantage as Federer's game fell apart, breaking him in the fifth match of the third set and serving out the match.
Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, has now failed to make the quarterfinals in Paris in six appearances.
"He was really at the top of his form and the crowd was totally bewhind him," said Federer. "There was nothing I could do."
Kuerten next faces either Feliciano Lopez of Spain or Lee Hyung-Taik of South Korea.
Hewitt battles through
Australian Lleyton Hewitt survived a Dutch bombardment to defeat last year's beaten finalist Martin Verkerk 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Hewitt, the 12th seed, will play either 2002 champion Albert Costa of Spain or Xavier Malisse of Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals.
The former World No.1 had to claw his way back from the brink of defeat as he fell two sets to one down and with a service break against him in the fourth set.
Hewitt began promisingly and pocketed the opening set 6-2 in 40 minutes on the Suzanne Lenglen court.
But that was when the towering Verkerk started to uncork his howitzers first on service and then on both forehand and backhand flanks, bringing gasps of appreciation from a packed crowd.
A single break of serve in both the second and third sets were enough to put him ahead and when he broke again to lead 2-1 in the fourth, Hewitt had his back to the wall.
But once again the Adelaider's never-say-die attitude kept him alive and he broke back in the next game to level.
With some of the sting going out of Verkerk's game, Hewitt started to dominate and he broke again in the sixth game before leveling the match at two sets apiece.
Hewitt ran away with it in the decider, moving to 4-0 with two breaks of serve and then serving out twice for the match.
Russia's Marat Safin saved two match points before beating Italian qualifier Potito Starace 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Safin, the 20th seed, emerged from a four hour 25minute clash to face Argentina's David Nalbandian, the eighth seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
