Sharapova survives Pennetta test
Sharapova survives Pennetta test
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Monday, 03, Jul 2006 11:08
Former champion Maria Sharapova is through to the last eight of Wimbledon after a battling 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3 win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.
The fourth seed made 41 unforced errors in the match and also served ten double faults as she was forced to scrap for every point against a determined opponent.
In the end, it took her three match points in two different games to seal victory and she admitted she would have to improve if she were to win again at the All England Club.
"I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis and in the end it came down to how much I fought," Sharapova said.
"I'm definitely going to have to step it up for my next match."
Her next match is against compatriot and seventh seed Elena Dementieva, who comfortably saw off unseeded American Shenay Perry 6-2 6-0 to reach her first Wimbledon quarter-final.
Also through is world number one Amelie Mauresmo of France, who dispatched Ana Ivanovic 6-3 6-4.
Last year's semi-finalist has yet to drop a set at this year's championships and will now face Russian ninth seed Anastasia Myskina, who defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
The Serbian had knocked out reigning champion Venus Williams in the last round but Myskina, who has also not lost a set so far, had too much for her
World number two Kim Clijsters of Belgium joined her in the last eight after she saw off Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-2 inside 49 minutes.
China's Na Li, who became the first Chinese woman to be seeded at Wimbledon, became the first to reach the quarter-finals of a grand slam event after she beat 10th seed Nicole Vaidisova 4-6 6-1 6-3.
Her prize is a meeting with the Belgian in the last eight.