Maria Sharapova puts aside Ekaterina Makarova to reach the quarter-final – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
In an all-Russian contest, second ranked Maria Sharapova dumped the 41st ranked Ekaterina Makarova to book a spot in the quarter-final of the Sony Ericsson Open. On Monday, both players fought for two hours and 13 minutes
before the 24-years-old beauty starlet gobbled up the match in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(3).
Makarova is yet to open her account against her compatriot. She has faced her on four different occurrences since 2011 but hasn’t been able to put pressure on the second seed Russian at all. She extended the match into three sets
during the Madrid Open but apart from that, it has been straight sets triumphs for the right-handed 6’2 Sharapova.
It was a blistering start to the match. The former sports illustrated magazine model was under the cosh in the first two serve games but she did well to save a couple of breakpoints and registered serve holds. Scores kept moving
ahead until it was 3-2 in favour of Sharapova. She won the following four points played and broke serve to take the lead of 4-2.
Another testing battle in the seventh game was witnessed at the hard courts of Miami. Sharapova saved three breakpoints before consolidating her break and imposing a 5-2 lead on her opponent. Makarova did well to hold her serve
and diminish the trail to 5-3.
A swap of breakthroughs ended the resistance of the inferior ranked Russian. It was a great matchup in the first set with Sharapova just sneaking ahead; grabbing 42 points and inching onwards with a difference of three points.
The second set was more entertaining for the visitors in the arena. It commenced with a serve hold for the fan favourite Sharapova and featured an exchange of breakpoints in the following two games. Scores were kept together courtesy
to another trade of breakthroughs during the seventh and eighth game.
Once again, both players switched breakpoints between themselves to enforce a tie-breaker round. A blistering power play from the experienced second seed won her a date with the Chinese number one, Li Na which will be played on
Tuesday.
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