| Maria Sharapova (RUS) |
6 |
6 |
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| Sania Mirza (IND) |
2 |
1 |
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Playing with the determination and confidence of a defending champion, top-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia swept past unseeded Sania Mirza of India, 6-2, 6-1, in sixty-one minutes to advance to the Acura Classic semifinals.
On a warm, sunny day before a large crowd on Stadium Court, Sharapova, with her game looking sharp, powered her way to an impressive victory over Mirza, who was making her first quarterfinal appearance at the Acura Classic.
The Russian began the match by winning eight of the first nine points to take a 2-0 lead. After Mirza held serve in the third game, Sharapova lost only five points in the next three games as she increased her lead to 5-1.
Following Mirza’s service hold, Sharapova held serve to wrap up the first set in 29 minutes. Mirza served to open the second set, but dropped serve after a 16-point game.
After Sharapova held for a 2-0 lead, Mirza took a 40-0 lead in the third game, but after throwing in two double faults, the Indian failed to hold serve.
The highlight of the second set for Mirza came in the fourth game as she broke Sharapova’s serve for the only time in the set.
For Mirza, the service break was too little, too late as Sharapova lost only three points in sweeping the final three games to finish the match.
- Sharapova advances to the semifinals, where she will face the winner of the Venus Williams and Anna Chakvetadze match.
- Sharapova is ranked second in the world.
- Sharapova improves her 2007 match record to 29-8.
- Sharapova now leads Mirza 2-0 in career head-to-head meetings.
- Sharapova is making her third career Acura Classic appearance. She is the tournament’s defending champion.
- Mirza is ranked 31 in the world.
- Mirza was making her third career Acura Classic appearance.
- Mirza is the only Indian woman ranked in the Top 200 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings.
- Mirza’s 2007 match record is now 23-13.
For more match summaries, please click here.
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