• WTA Paris Open

Sharapova breezes into semi-finals

ESPN staff
January 31, 2014
Sharapova blows a kiss after cruising into the semi-finals © Getty Images
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Maria Sharapova thrashed eighth-seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-2,6-2 to set up an all-Russian semi-final against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the WTA Paris Open.

Although top-seeded Sharapova dropped her serve once, the four-time grand slam champion broke Flipkens' serve five times to win in little more than an hour.

In a more tightly-contested match, Pavlyuchenkova upset fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 5-7 6-3 7-6(3).

Both had seven aces and also dropped serve four times each.

In Friday's later quarter-finals, No. 3 Sara Errani of Italy takes on Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, and Andrea Petkovic of Germany plays France's Alize Cornet.

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