Sharapova eases into Stuttgart quarters
BERLIN (Reuters) – Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova eased past fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-1 on Thursday to reach the Stuttgart Grand Prix quarterfinals and continue her winning comeback from a 15-month doping ban.
The 30-year-old Russian, who has won five Grand Slams and is among the highest-paid athletes in the world, returned to action on Wednesday with a straight-set win over Roberta Vinci following her suspension for the use of banned substance meldonium.
She has yet to drop a set in Stuttgart where she has won the title three times.
“I settled down a bit compared to Wednesday. I executed a great plan today and I was really glad I pulled that off,” Sharapova told reporters.
“Practicing is so different to matches, you cannot compare it. You just have to trust the work you have put in. It’s great to come out and play matches. Being in the quarterfinals again is special.”
Sharapova, who had tested positive for the banned substance at the 2016 Australian Open, picked up where she had left off against Vinci, powering through her first two service games without dropping a point but struggling somewhat MARIA SHARAPOVA’S return has made for much controversy, with a number of players critical of how she was able to immediately return to the WTA Tour with the benefit of a wildcard, despite having no ranking. with her return consistency.
Makarova cleverly mixed up the height and depth of her shots during rallies on the very quick Stuttgart clay with Sharapova still lacking match practice.
Makarova wasted her only break opportunity at 5-5 and Sharapova never looked back. She earned her first break points a game later, powering a crosscourt forehand winner to grab the first set.
She broke Makarova twice in the second set to race 5-1 ahead and served out the match with an ace to set up a quarterfinal clash against Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit
Sharapova received a wild card for the tournament, having lost all her ranking points in the wake of her suspension, and she has also been invited to play in Madrid and Rome – moves that have angered some players on the tour.
Nadal on track in Spain
Meanwhile, in men’s action, third seed Rafael Nadal remains on course for a 10th Barcelona Open title, advancing to the quarterfinals with a routine 6-3, 6-4 victory over Kevin Anderson.
It was Nadal’s 50th victory at the tournament he has won nine times and the Mallorcan never looked in danger against the world No. 66, forcing 10 break points throughout the match.
Nadal, who was only able to take two of them against the big-serving South African, admitted that the rain throughout the morning in Catalonia meant the newly-renamed Rafa Nadal Court was moving slower than usual and will be hoping for better weather when he takes on either Alexander Zverev or Hyeon Chung in the last eight on Friday.
Elsewhere, world No. 1 Andy Murray was in action on Thursday, beating Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4.