Paris, France - Fourth-seeded Simona Halep, former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and sixth-seeded former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic all reached the third round at the French Open on Thursday. Recent French Open runner-up Sara Errani of Italy also advanced on Day 5, as did former champ Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. The Romanian Halep humbled Brit Heather Watson 6-2, 6-4, while the fifth- seeded left-handed Czech star Kvitova handled New Zealands Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-4 and the veteran Serbian star Jankovic eased past Japans Kurumi Nara 7-5, 6-0. Up next for Halep will be Spaniard Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, while Kvitova will face the former top-five star Kuznetsova and Jankovic will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea. "There are still a lot of great players in the draw, every round is going to be tough," said Jankovic. "The opponents get more and more difficult." The 10th-seeded 2012 Roland Garros finalist Errani eased past German Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-2, 6-4, while the 27th-seeded Kuznetsova, who captured the 2009 title and was the French Open runner-up in 2006, defeated rising Italian Camila Giorgi 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. American Sloane Stephens, seeded 15th, dropped only four games in a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Slovenian Polona Hercog. In other action involving seeds on the famed red clay, Israeli Julia Glushko took out No. 21 Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; No. 22 Russian Ekaterina Makarova tackled American Coco Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-3; No. 23 Czech Lucie Safarova got past Aussie Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens knocked out No. 24 Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-4, 3-0, retired; a No. 26 Cirstea brushed aside Brazilian Teliana Pereira 6-2, 7-5; and No. 28 German Andrea Petkovic topped Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Also on Thursday, Frances Kristina Mladenovic snuck past American Alison Riske 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3; Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa dropped Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-4; Frances Pauline Parmentier overcame Kazakhstans Yaroslava Shvedova 1-6, 6-3, 6-3; Argentine Paula Ormaechea came back to best Romanian Monica Niculescu 2-6, 7-5, 6-2; and Spaniard Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor held off Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Soler-Espinosa was a runner-up in her first-ever WTA final last week in Strasbourg, France. Nike React Element 87 Nederland .com) - The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors are back in the great white north for a brief moment and will host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night from Air Canada Centre. Nike Vapormax Heren Goedkoop . The 48th-ranked Williams made her first appearance in Dubai since she won her second straight title here in 2010. Shed missed the last three years either because of injury or Sjogrens Syndrome. http://www.vapormaxsalenederland.com/vap...en/heren.html.Y. -- Scott Chandler is returning to Buffalo, where he spent the past three seasons establishing himself as the Bills top pass-catching tight end. Nike Just Do It Schoenen Kopen . And like the near entirety of last season, Jonathan Bernier and Torontos goaltending tandem is up to the task. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit 2 Heren . In the opening game of his fourth-round match at the U.S. Open, the owner of 17 major titles got passed at the net twice, sailed a backhand long, then missed two forehands to get broken.BALTIMORE -- Two weeks after trading their closer to Oakland, the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with former Athletics closer Grant Balfour on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal. Balfours contract will not be completed until the right-hander passes a physical, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not been announced by the Orioles. Balfour fills the vacancy left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland because Baltimore didnt want to pay him about $10 million a season. Johnson had 50 saves in each of the past two seasons but was in line for a huge raise. "Its really about the allocation of resources and to have a competitive team," Orioles executive vice-president of baseball opeerations Dan Duquette said at the time.dddddddddddd "You have to have proper balance." Balfour is the first significant addition this off-season by the Orioles, who went 85-77 in 2013 but came up short in their bid to reach the post-season for a second straight year. Balfour, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season. He made $4.5 million with the Athletics in 2013. He had a 2.59 ERA and 72 strikeouts, with 27 walks in 62 2-3 innings. In 2012, he had 24 saves in 26 chances. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the Athletics, Balfour is 28-17 with 72 saves and a 3.27 ERA. The addition of Balfour means the Orioles wont have to try Tommy Hunter or Darren ODay at closer. Both likely will be tried in a setup or situational role. ' ' '