Sharapova returns to form to reach fourth round

Saturday, 24 January 2015 03:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MELBOURNE (Reuters): Maria Sharapova proved her second-round scare against Alexandra Panova was no more than a blip as she destroyed Zarina Diyas 6-1 6-1 to charge into the Australian Open fourth round on Friday.

The statuesque second seed was forced to save match-points against fellow Russian Panova but roared back into form against the hapless Kazakh, who was completely outgunned in the baseline duels. Sharapova blasted 22 winners against the 31st seed and sealed the match with an ace in a tick over an hour. The five-time grand slam champion will next play China’s Peng Shuai for a place in the quarter-finals.