Sharapova demolishes Kustova

Eurosport - Wed, 20 May 16:04:00 2009

Maria Sharapova continued her successful return to the WTA circuit with a confident 6-2 6-0 victory over Darya Kustova which took her into the quarter-finals of the Warsaw Open.

TENNIS 2009 - Russia's Maria Sharapova serves to Daria Kutsova from Belarus during the second round of the WTA Warsaw Open tournament in Warsaw, Poland - 0

The former world number one is playing her first singles tournament in nine and a half months after taking time off to recover from a persistent shoulder injury and was pleased with her showing.

"I thought I did the right things at the right time. I played a solid game and I did everything I had to do to win today," she said

Despite the doubts over her fitness, the 22-year-old showed glimpses of her glory days when she won three Grand Slams, including Wimbledon as a 17-year-old.

The Russian cruised through the first set in a much improved showing from her inconsistent three-set first round win over Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-1 6-7 (6/8) 6-3.

With her right shoulder still strapped up, Sharapova used crisp baseline shots and strong serving to keep Belarusian Kustova pinned to the baseline.

She raced through the second set and won 13 straight points to take her to 5-0 and 40-0 up before Kustova delayed the inevitable with a forehand winner.

Sharapova then closed out the match when Kustova hit long to confirm her unbeaten return for at least another match.

She now plays Ukrainian eighth seed Alona Bondarenko for a place in the semi-finals. Bonderenko, who defeated Poland's Marta Domachowska 6-3 6-1, promises to provide a stiffer test for Sharapova.

"I've played her a few times before, Sharapova added.

I played her on clay last year in the States, and in it was a pretty tough match.

"I think she's in good form. She plays a really good defensive game but she can step in and hit the ball. So I'm looking forward to it.

Sharapova's return to the spotlight will please organisers at Roland Garros as she is still one of the biggest draws in the women's game.

Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru continued her good run with her second straight sets win in two days.

The 20-year-old clay-court specialist overpowered Italy's Sara Errani 6-4 6-3 and will play either Alona's sister Kateryna Bondarenko or Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva in the last eight.

WTA Warsaw: Watch throughout the week LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 521): Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

AFP

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. aphrodita dont you have anything better to do than­ commenting stupidly on other people? GET A LIFE!

    From rallia_dreamer, on Thu 21 May 2:34PM

  2. aphrodita don't be dumb, get off Olga's back,­ will you. I doubt if any of the regulars here will­ agree with you. She is always so well presented.

    From sanchez.santos, on Thu 21 May 2:17PM

  3. Go Go Maria, well done!

    @#15 Your comments here seem­ to be a huge burst of a jealousy.
    Do you think being a­ pro tennis player that easy? Then go on a court and try­ to do at least 5% of what Maria or any other pro tennis­ player does.
    And if you are not cute/not blond it­ doesn't mean you have to transfer your personal­ problems here and insult hard-working pro tennis­ players, which Maria definitely is.
    Once again:­ Jealousy is a BAD adviser.
    Your shallow insulting­ comments doesn't belong to here.

    From Drie K, on Thu 21 May 9:55AM

  4. ajpbolton,

    There are 2 Bondarenkos on the WTA tours.­ They are sisters, Alona and Katherina.

    From x. y, on Thu 21 May 8:34AM

  5. big thanks to dear Maria for returning to thrill &­ entertain us

    Hope she remains fit & healthy for a­ successfull happy run in the FRENCH OPEN ++WIMBLEDON

    From profsavic, on Thu 21 May 6:35AM

  6. CONGRATULATIONS TO DARLING MARIA ~~~~~ SO HAPPY TO SEE­ HER BACK IN ACTION

    WE JUST HOPE SHE IS NOW FULLY FIT­ & HEALTHY TO PLAY REGULARLY
    AND TAKE ADEQUATE­ REST TO PRESERVE HER HEALTH

    From tiptoptoe77, on Thu 21 May 2:07AM

  7. lame man, I see HOW she do it.... dissappoint own­ national team... she will dissappoint you too, man...­ sorry for telling what I think and not what you want to­ hear... bla0bla... such articles are read only by her­ fans... seems no

    From Mia, on Wed 20 May 10:36PM

  8. She is playing well but do you really think that she is­ going to beat Venus or Dinara. They are on a completly­ different league at the mmoment. Well done to her­ anyone. Next year she will be back in top 5 or even top­ 3. GOOD LUCK MARIA

    From B, on Wed 20 May 10:33PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Blold women are dumb.... sorry, but true... that's­ why Sharapova is a tennis player, not an advocat. Look­ at comment #3 - this blond (old?) woman always wishes­ luck to both finalist and can't find anything more­ smart to say.... sad!! go Anna (Ivanovich), Serena,­ Dinara! Toppie! That's why we watch tennis! (woman­ tennis)

    From Mia, on Wed 20 May 10:15PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    caution! #3 is blond woman also! :)

    From Mia, on Wed 20 May 8:59PM

  11. Yee tOoo Sharapova uu rr the best you must win this­ tournament and become No.1 Luvv yaaa :)))

    From nikolovaevgenija, on Wed 20 May 7:47PM

  12. she must be one hell of a screamer in bed...

    From BA777, on Wed 20 May 7:19PM

  13. OO yeah .. !!!!!! Go Maria !!!!!!
    Good luck in the next­ round !! the tournament is for you !!!

    From Andreas, on Wed 20 May 5:45PM

  14. I want Ana's return;{!

    From ivanajaa, on Wed 20 May 4:59PM

  15. VERY good draw.. not real oponents... if she makes next­ round with Alyona Bondarenko then she easily can win...­ but in this tournament are girls who much lower then­ she in WTA rating

    From Mia, on Wed 20 May 4:57PM

  16. Womens tennis hasn't been the same for the past­ nine months without sharapova, hopefully she will be­ able to get her ranking up again! C'mon Maria!

    From jonathonrodgers, on Wed 20 May 4:52PM

  17. Nice to see a REAL champion making a comeback from­ injuries to reclaim her glory.
    As a three-time Grand­ Slam winner, she's already in the history books but­ there's still plenty of time to add to her amazing­ legacy.

    at 22 years of age, she's younger than­ both Safina and Jankovic who are both still chasing­ their first taste of the big prize.

    From jay, on Wed 20 May 4:46PM

  18. **MURRAY LOST TO MATHIEU TODAY IN THE MASTERS GUINOT­ MARY COHR INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION TENNIS­ TOURNAMENT(Paris) 4-6,7-6,6-7(super TB).ALSO INVITED:­ FEDERER/NADAL/MONFILS/CLEMENT/SAFIN/HAAS**

    From Jeremy, on Wed 20 May 3:57PM

  19. bondarenko has lost.

    From ajpbolton, on Wed 20 May 2:51PM

  20. nice to see u back big girl

    priwet olga

    From Igor, on Wed 20 May 2:50PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account