Maria Sharapova cruises into semis

Maria Sharapova won her all-Russian battle with Anna Chakvetadze to reach the French Open semi-finals for the first time. The second seed, a 6-3 6-4 winner, will now face Ana Ivanovic in the last four.

Maria Sharapova drew first blood when she broke in the sixth game and then survived four break-back chances in the next game before holding for a 5-2 lead. She went on to take the first set 6-3 and when she broke in the first game of the second set she looked set to easy to victory. However, Chakvetadze was in no mood to lay down and broke back immediately - it was to be her only success of the Maria serve which stood up well given her recent shoulder injury.

The score moved on 4-3 at which point Sharapova moved up a gear to break once more before serving out for victory in an hour and 18 minutes. Asked if she was surprised to be in the last four for the first time, Sharapova replied: "I wouldn't say that. "I didn't come off court and go, 'Wow, I'm in the semi-finals'. "I have believed in myself with every round. I'm more proud and excited than surprised."

Maria Sharapova survives to reach quarter-finals at French Open

Maria Sharapova survived two match points before overcoming Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 3-6 6-4 9-7 in a gripping fourth-round match on Sunday.

Schnyder served for the match three times before dropping serve in the last game, bowing out by sending a forehand wide after two hours and 37 minutes of a tight contest that could have gone either way. The Russian, who has been playing through pain at this year's Roland Garros after her recent shoulder problems, held her nerve to claim a sensational 3-6 6-4 9-7 triumph, after more than two-and-a-half hours' play on Suzanne Lenglen court.
Maria Sharapova saved match points in the 10th and 14th games of the last set, only to clinch victory on the first of her own in the 16th and final game. "It's pretty hard being a tennis player and Mother Theresa at the same time and that's just the way it is," the 20 year-old Russian said. Sharapova, who has never got past the quarter-finals at the Paris grand slam, will next play Russia's Anna Chakvetadze after the ninth seed beat Lucie Safarova 6-4 0-6 6-2.

Maria Sharapova through to 3rd Round in Paris

Maria Sharapova reached the third round of the French Open on Thursday, crushing American Jill Craybas 6-2 6-1. The Russian, however, says she feels like “a cow on ice” on Paris clay courts.

Second seed Maria needed just over an hour to see off Jill Craybas. The American won two games in the first set, but at 2-2 the Russian took nine games in a row only to make a stop at 5-0 in the second set on the way to a 6-2 6-1 win. Maria, however, admits she still does not feel comfortable on clay. “I feel like a cow on ice. Especially on clay,” the Russian said. “I don’t play on clay for the other ten months of the year. It’s not as natural for me.