Paris ? Inspired by the familiar chants of “Guga! Guga!” at Roland Garros, three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten pulled off the latest French Open shocker.

Kuerten again rose to the occasion in the tournament he loves best and beat top-ranked Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in the third round Saturday.

Playing like the Kuerten of old, Guga — his nickname — broke serve twice for an early lead and held his final 14 service games without facing a break point. He won despite a sore right hip that required arthroscopic surgery in 2002 and often has hampered him since.

The result delighted the crowd on center court, where Kuerten has been a fan favorite since winning his first French Open title in 1997 when he was 20 and unseeded.

“It’s been a love story since the beginning,” the amiable Brazilian said. “I came here in bad shape, playing bad. But every time I go on the court, it seems something special happens with the love and passion I have for the tournament. That brings the best out in me.”

Two other former champions advanced on the women’s side: No. 2-seeded Serena Williams and No. 7 Jennifer Capriati. No. 4 Venus Williams eliminated 2000 champion Mary Pierce, 6-3, 6-1.

In a match that finished at dusk, No. 20 Marat Safin won his second five-setter in a row, overcoming two match points in the fourth set to beat qualifier Potito Starace, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Safin, who caused a stir in the second round by dropping his shorts to celebrate a point, this time had the crowd booing for his injury timeout. He needed to have his left hand taped when Starace was serving for the match in the fourth set.

After Safin closed out the victory, he walked off center court to a mix of cheers and jeers.

Gustavo Kuerten celebrates after he defeated top-seeded Roger Federer during a third-round match of the French Open tennis tournament. Kuerten won, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, Saturday at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

Federer joined on the sidelines several other high-profile first-week losers, including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and defending champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Justine Henin-Hardenne, who was the top-seeded woman.

This is the first time both top-seeded players were eliminated from the tournament before the fourth round.

But Federer is accustomed to early departures. The reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion lost in the opening round at Roland Garros in 2002 and 2003.

“The last three years haven’t been the best for me here,” Federer said. “I just didn’t play like I can. This is a little bit of a disappointment for me. I can play better.”

Kuerten, by contrast, advanced to the fourth round for the sixth year in a row.

“This tournament, every year, makes me go over my limit,” said Kuerten, seeded 28th. “It’s amazing to beat the No. 1 in the world, a guy who’s playing great tennis.”

Serena Williams, the 2002 champion, overcame an erratic serve and a rocky stretch to beat Silvija Talaja, 6-0, 6-4.

Williams had a 5-0 lead after 16 minutes despite five double-faults. She finished with nine but dominated with her return, breaking serve six times.

“I predominantly don’t hit nine doubles in a tournament, let alone a match,” Williams said. “It was weird.”

Talaja won only three points on her serve in the first set, but Williams’ play became ragged after she took a 6-0, 2-0 lead. Williams said she lost concentration, which sometimes happens to her.

“I’m thinking about other things,” she said. “I’ll think of crazy stuff, like what I’m going to eat tonight.”

Venus Williams, who has yet to lose a set, needed barely an hour to advance against the 30th-seeded Pierce.

“I’m playing a lot of clay-court tennis — a lot of balls I’m running down and getting to,” Williams said. “It feels good out there.”

Capriati, the champion in 2001, took advantage of a mental mistake by Elena Bovina in the final game to win, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Capriati advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the eighth time.

“I’ve played well to get to this point,” Capriati said. “This is where I really expect the matches to get tough.”