TAKE THAT: Russia’s Maria Sharapova returns the ball to compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during their pre-quarter-final clash at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, yesterday. Sharapova won 6-4, 6-3. (AFP)
DPA/Stuttgart
Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska faces two-time reigning champion Maria Sharapova in the Porsche Grand Prix quarter-finals after both posted straight-set wins yesterday.
Radwanska did not drop serve in her 6-3, 6-2 over Italian Roberta Vinci, earning three breaks en route to victory in one hour 18 minutes.
Sharapova also wrapped up her 6-4, 6-3 second-round win over fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a service winner to improve her spotless Stuttgart record to 10-0 since her debut in 2012.
Sharapova is ranked ninth in the world and must beat Radwanska for a semi-final berth in order to avoid dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in four years. She takes an 8-2 record against Radwanska into today’s last eight clash.
“She is number three in the world and has been playing well. I love these type of challenges. I need to improve in all aspects of my game,” Sharapova said.
The Serbian duo of Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic posted comeback victories to reach the last eight as well.
Fifth-seeded 2008 winner Jankovic beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 for a date with Russian Alisa Kleybanova, while Ivanovic ousted 2011 champion Julia Goerges 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 and will face Italian eighth seed Sara Errani.
Radwanska had nine unforced errors compared to Vinci’s 21. She is in search of her first 2014 title, with an Indian Wells runner-up finish last month her best showing so far.
So is Sharapova, who has not reached a final this year after an injury-plagued second half of 2013.
Djokovic on his way to fatherhood
Novak Djokovic announced yesterday that he and girlfriend Jelena Ristic are expecting their first child.
The Serbian six-time Grand Slam winner is currently sidelined with a right wrist injury, picked up at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters but announced the good news on his Twitter account. “Jelena is pregnant !!! We will soon be parents,” the 26-year-old winner of 43 ATP titles tweeted on his account @DjokerNole.
The expectant couple have been dating since 2005 and got engaged in Sept 2013.