PARIS, AP:

FOR the third match in a row at the French Open, Serena Williams was oddly out of sorts at the outset and dropped the opening set, and for the third match in a row, almost as though this was the plan all along, Williams righted herself to pull out a victory.

In a riveting, two-hour showdown between the last two American women in the draw, the No. 1-ranked and No. 1-seeded Williams was a game away from defeat Monday then came back to beat Sloane Stephens 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Either Williams, in 2013, or Sharapova, in 2012 and 2014, has won the French Open the past three years. Only Williams has a chance to do it again on Saturday because the second-seeded Sharapova was outplayed throughout a 7-6 (3), 6-4 loss to 13th-seeded Lucie Safarova.

biggest names

In her first French Open quarter-final, Safarova will face Garbine Muguruza of Spain, who beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3, 6-4.

On a day full of tennis' biggest names, the Big 4 of the men's game - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal - and Andy Murray - all won. The top-seeded Djokovic and nine-time French Open champion Nadal will play in the quarter-finals tomorrow, a rematch of last year's final.

Nadal eliminated the last US man, Jack Sock, 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, while Djokovic had no trouble in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet.

Federer needed about an hour to finish his 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Gael Monfils in a match suspended because of darkness after the second set Sunday.