Sharapova ‘above’ Bouchard criticism

MARIA Sharapova declared herself “way above” responding to Eugenie Bouchard after recording the second win of her comeback to reach the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Grand Prix.

After a comfortable win against Roberta Vinci in the first round on Wednesday, Sharapova stepped up a level to beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-1. It came after world No. 59 Bouchard said Sharapova, returning from a 15-month doping ban, was “a cheater” and that “a cheater in any sport should not be allowed to play again”, adding she was “not someone I can say I look up to anymore”.

Asked about the comments, Sharapova said: “I don’t have anything to say – I am way above that.”

The only slight concern was a growing proliferation of double faults from Sharapova, a weakness since severe shoulder problems earlier in her career. But the seven doubles were outweighed by nine aces, the last of them on her first match point.

The draw has been kind to Sharapova and she will face another unseeded player in the quarter-finals in Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit. The world No. 72 is in great form, though, having reached the final of her last event in Switzerland.

Sharapova’s two victories have already ensured she will be back in the top 400 in the rankings on Monday, edging her closer to earning direct entry for Wimbledon. The Russian has two more tournaments in Madrid and Rome in which to secure enough points, while reaching the final in Stuttgart would earn her entry into French Open qualifying without the need for a wildcard.

“Being the second match and playing yesterday and getting all the emotions out, I feel I settled down a little bit today and I was able to focus on my game. I executed a great plan,” the 30-year-old said in an on-court interview.