MOSCOW, May 9 (R-Sport) – Maria Sharapova hung in against Sabine Lisicki on Thursday, earning a quarterfinals berth at the Madrid Open.
Sharapova needed one hour and 42 minutes to defeat Lisicki, the world No. 39, 6-2, 7-5.
The Russian world No. 2 fired eight aces and nailed six break points, overcoming a troubling 5-4 deficit in the second set before breaking Lisicki and winning the third-round match.
She will next face either Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova or Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.