Sharapova Blazes Trail Into Quarterfinals

If you come to watch Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova at the Acura Classic, don’t be late.

On Thursday afternoon at the La Costa Resort and Spa, the 17-year-old Russian needed only 44 minutes to dispose of Gisela Dulko of Argentina, 6-0, 6-1, in a third-round match.

Sharapova, who will play fellow Russian Anastasia Myskina in Friday’s quarterfinals, lost only six points in winning the first set at love in 18 minutes.

Dulko got on the scoreboard when she held serve in the third game of the second set to the delight of the large Stadium Court crowd, which gave the Argentine a loud round of applause.

'With the score at 2-1 in Sharapova's favor, fans tried to get Dulko fired up in the second set. Sharapova kept her concentration and continued to roll as the tall, hard-hitting Russian won the last four games.

Dulko fought off two match points as she served to stay in the match at 1-5, but Sharapova closed out the match on her third match point.

• Sharapova captured the Wimbledon title in early July defeating Serena Williams in the finals.
• Sharapova is making her first Acura Classic appearance.
• Sharapova improves her 2004 match record to 32-8.
• This was the first career meeting between Sharapova and Dulko.
• Sharapova is ranked eighth in the world.
• Dulko was playing in the Acura Classic for the first time.
• Dulko is ranked 52 in the world.
• Dulko’s 2004 match record is now 33-20.
• Dulko defeated tennis legend Martina Navratilova in singles this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

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