Sharapova comes out on top after marathon quarter-final

FORMER world number one Maria Sharapova stepped up her French Open preparations with a battling 6-7(6) 6-4 7-5 win over reigning Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko in the Italian Open quarter-finals yesterday.

Sharapova produced one of her best performances of the season to overcome her Latvian opponent in a gripping contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.

Fifth seed Ostapenko saved a set point before edging the opener in a tiebreak but failed to maintain her level in the second as Sharapova forced a decider.

The Russian missed two match points at 5-3, allowing Ostapenko to draw level after 10 games, but Sharapova was not to be denied as she booked a semi-final spot in Rome for the first time in three years.

“It’s great to back at this stage,” Sharapova said.

“My fans have been so loyal throughout the years and for me to be able to produce this kind of tennis again in front of them is very special.”

Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit knocked out world number two Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-1 to record her second consecutive win over a top-10 opponent.

Kontaveit, who overcame Venus Williams in the last 16, struck 23 winners and broke her Danish opponent’s serve six times to wrap up victory in just over an hour.

The world number 26 set up a semi-final battle with defending champion Elina Svitolina, who defeated former world number one Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4.

● Rafael Nadal continued his clay domination yesterday, rallying from a set down to reach the Italian Open semi-finals with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Fabio Fognini.

The world number two needs to lift an eighth career title at the Foro Italico tomorrow to return to the top of the ATP rankings after losing that position to Roger Federer last week.

Spaniard Nadal dropped the opening set in an hour but re-grouped effortlessly as he swept past the Italian in the one-sided second and third sets of their quarter-final tie. “I’m not used to playing so early,” Nadal said of his midday start. “But I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals. “This was a very important win for me today.” Nadal also beat Fognini in Rome in 2013 in their first-ever meeting. This was his 11th victory in 14 meetings with the 21st-ranked Italian, and sixth in a row.

He is working towards Roland Garros, where he will aim for an unprecedented 11th title. – Reuters