Maria Sharapova Reaches Italian Open Quarterfinals
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Friday, May 13, 2011 4:00am PST USA
| ROME-- Friday in her first clay court quarterfinal of the year, the former number one Maria Sharapova of Russia takes on the third seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Italian Open.
Thursday in the third round, the 24 year old, seventh seeded Sharapova defeated the tenth seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinal round.
Head to head versus Azarenka, Sharapova trails 2-3 and dropped the duo’s last match-up 6-1, 6-4 on hard courts in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open in March at Miami, Florida.
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Maria Sharapova of Russia | Image: Getty |
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Maria Sharapova posted her best finish at the French Open in a 2007 semifinal performance.
The two players have never faced each other on clay. Sharapova could face a tough task today versus Azarenka as the third seed reached the final last week on clay at Madrid. And in recent weeks, Azarenka has displayed the more solid movement and serve of the two players.
Today’s winner could face the top seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in Saturday’s semifinals.
The Italian Open at Rome, Italy is one of the final WTA Tour warm-up tournaments for the second grand slam of the tennis season; the French Open. Set in Paris, the two week tournament, the French Open begins May 22nd.
Sharapova posted her best finish at the French Open in a 2007 semifinal performance.
In other quarterfinal action today, last year’s French Open champion, the second seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy takes on the sixth seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia in her bid to become the first Italian to win in Rome since 1985.
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