Paris: Triple champion Gustavo Kuerten crushed top seed and world number 1 Roger Federer with a stunning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory to move into the fourth round of the French Open today (May 29, 2004).

The hugely popular Brazilian, seeded a lowly 28 after having two years of his career savaged by a hip injury, was carried along to his famous victory by a huge wave of support from a packed Philippe Chatrier Court.

His win gave him a match-up against either Spain's 23rd seed Feliciano Lopez or South Korean lucky loser Lee Hyung-Taik for a place in the quarter-finals.

"For me, it's a great pleasure to come here and play," said Kuerten, the winner in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

"I didn't expect to play because of my physical condition but this is a very special tournament for me. It makes me go over the limit and if it wasn't for this tournament I wouldn't be here."

The stunning win ended Federer's hopes of adding the Roland Garros title to his Wimbledon and Australian crowns and it also overshadowed the relatively sedate progress of former champions Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati into the fourth round of the women's singles.

"I tried but he didn't give me much of a chance," said a dejected Federer.

"Usually I can control these kinds of matches but today that wasn't the case."