Maria Sharapova advances into Bank of West quarterfinals

Maria Sharapova took what she learned from a clumsy early win and turned it into a sharp, emphatic victory over fellow Russian Nadia Petrova on Wednesday in a second-round match at the $700,000 WTA Premier Bank of the West Classic.

Sharapova needed just over an hour to beat 10th-ranked and fifth-seeded Petrova 6-1, 6-2, after a three-set win over Japan's Ai Sugiyama on Monday. "I knew what I had to improve upon," Sharapova said. "I started that first match lousy. This time the goal was to get a better start." Sharapova, who played her 17th match since returning to the court from a nine-month layoff due to right shoulder surgery, also had a pretty finish.

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Maria Sharapova struggles to win first match

Maria Sharapova shook off some inconsistent play to beat Japan's Ai Sugiyama, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1, in the first round of the WTA Premier Bank of the West Classic on Monday.



The 62nd-ranked Sharapova, working her way back from right shoulder surgery, avoided losing her first match in a tournament since Oct. 8, 2007, in Moscow to Victoria Azarenka. She has not lost a first round match since Aug. 11, 2003 to Elena Likhovtseva in Toronto.

Sharapova recovered from a 4-0 deficit in the first set, but then allowed a 5-2 lead in the second set to get away before dominating the third set.

"I had a pretty slow start and made a good effort to get back in the first set," Sharapova said. "I thought it was a good second set and I had a chance to close out the match, but unfortunately it didn't happen. In the third set I didn't do too many things wrong. I really stepped it up and was steady."

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Q&A with Maria Sharapova

Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova took some time to talk to the media before playing a World Team Tennis match for the Newport Breakers at the Newport Beach Country Club.



Sharapova will be participating in the L.A. Women's Tennis Championships next week at Home Depot Center in Carson.

Q: How would you say your return from injury is going?
A: It's been wonderful. I went to Europe. I was there for seven weeks, then didn't have to come back earlier than planned. You know, I obviously was a little bit disappointed with Wimbledon. It was a tough match. With the way my arm held up, I was really happy. You know, I came back. I went to work. I went back on the court, started working.

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