Sharapova into Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals

TOKYO (AFP) –

Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles third round match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 26, 2012. Sharapova finally found some rhythm to dispose of Safarova and reach the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open on Wednesday.

Two-time champion Maria Sharapova finally found some rhythm to dispose of stubborn Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic and reach the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open on Wednesday.

The French Open holder from Russia, who needed more than three hours to beat qualifier Heather Watson of Britain on Tuesday, showed few signs of fatigue in coming through 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) in the third-round clash.

Six out of eight games in the first set went against serve. Sharapova’s service game had also been a problem against Watson.

“After winning the first set, I was up 3-0 in the second set. I didn’t think it was going into a tie-break,” said Sharapova, 25.

“She had an opportunity to serve out for the second set and I was frustrated in that situation.”

“After the long match yesterday, I’m very happy to be able to win today. I was a little bit down in the second set and I’m just happy to win in two sets,” added Sharapova, winner in Tokyo in 2005 and 2009.

Safarova, ranked 17th against Sharapova’s second in the world, came back from 0-3 down to 3-3 and then 4-4 before hitting a fine service return winner on break point to take a 5-4 lead in the second set.

Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic hits a return against Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women’s singles third round match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 26, 2012. Safarova lost to Sharapova 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

But again neither could keep their serve in the following three games as the contest went to a tie-break.

Safarova again went down 0-3 in that before coming back to make it 4-4, but made a forehand error twice to give Sharapova a commanding 6-4 lead.

Safarova saved the first match point with an ace, but Sharapova calmly won the match by hitting an ace on her serve.

In the quarter-finals on Thursday, Sharapova will play eighth seed Samantha Stosur of Australia, who defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-4, 7-5.

On a day of few surprises, defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat qualifier Jamie Hampton of the United States 6-4, 6-3.

Sixth seed Sara Errani of Italy outclassed ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, while fifth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany overwhelmed Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 6-1.

Nadia Petrova of Russia defeated plucky Petra Martic of Croatia 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (1/7), 6-4.