Match Summaries :: Press Box

	1	2	3
Maria SHARAPOVA (RUS)	6	6
Vera ZVONAREVA (RUS)	4	4

Sharapova Slips Past Zvonareva

Second-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia withstood two aces from Vera Zvonareva in the opening game of their third-round Acura Classic match and went on to post a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over her fellow Russian.

Playing on Stadium Court before a large crowd, Sharapova and Zvonareva were even in the first set at 4-4 when Sharapova broke at love to take a 5-4 lead.

In the next game, Sharapova had set point at 40-30 but threw in a double fault. She eventually fought off a break point and held serve after a 16-point game to win the set.

In the second set, the second seed sprinted out to a 5-1 lead only to have Zvonareva charge back to win three games in a row to make the score 5-4.

“I don’t think I did too much wrong,” Sharapova said when asked about Zvonareva’s second-set comeback. “Maybe I could have stepped in a little bit and came to the net on a few of those balls. She played some really good points.”

Sharapova confidently served out the match at love as she hit a forehand down the line winner to get to match point.

The match, which took one-hour 26-minutes, ended when Zvonareva netted a forehand service return. “I was happy to be able to close it out with some good serves,” Sharapova said following the match.

“I knew she was playing some good tennis again,” Sharapova said. “Every time I play her I usually expect good tennis because I know how good she can be.

Sharapova added, “From the beginning of the match I felt like I hung in there and I was really patient. I felt I played really solid and made her hit lots of balls.”

Sharapova advances to the quarterfinals where she will meet defending champion Mary Pierce.
Sharapova now leads Zvonareva 3-2 in career head-to-head meetings.
Sharapova is ranked number four in the world.
Sharapova is making her second career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the quarterfinals in 2004.
Sharapova and Zvonareva are two of 16 Russians ranked in the Top 100 of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles ranking.
Zvonareva is ranked 36 in the world.
Zvonareva is now 26-16 in 2006.
Zvonareva was making her third career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the semifinals here in 2004.
Zvonareva was ranked as high as number nine in the world in 2004.

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