Amelie Mauresmo returns a shot to Lucie Safarova during the third round of the French Open. The fifth-seeded Mauresmo lost, 6-3, 7-6 (3), on Saturday in Paris.

Paris ? Amelie Mauresmo usually faults her mind-set after French Open failures. This time, she blamed her body for a third-round loss.

Mauresmo was unable to do what another two-time Grand Slam champion hampered by an injury, Maria Sharapova, successfully managed Saturday: deal with pain, set aside a lack of proper preparation and beat a less-experienced opponent.

The fifth-seeded Mauresmo blew a 3-0 lead in each set and lost to No. 25 Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 7-6 (3), the latest in a string of early exits at Roland Garros for the Frenchwoman.

“Well, it’s disappointing,” Mauresmo said when asked where this ranks among her French Open setbacks. “As disappointing? No, because, again, coming here, this year especially, I didn’t expect really great things to happen.”

She missed more than a month after having an appendectomy in March, then struggled with a groin injury that a trainer taped up during a timeout in the first set Saturday.

“No miracle today,” said Mauresmo, who finished with more unforced errors, fewer winners and eight double-faults. “When you’re not prepared the way you should be, then it makes it very difficult.”

Mauresmo let down the partisan fans at Court Philippe Chatrier that earlier saw Sharapova wince after some points and flex her problematic right shoulder after others. Still, the second-seeded Russian pulled out a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Alla Kudryavtseva.

“I can’t expect a lot from my shoulder,” said Sharapova, who double-faulted five times in the second set while getting broken three times in a row.

That put her in a 4-1 hole, but she won the last five games.