• Australian Open, Day Seven

Sharapova powers past Flipkens

ESPN staff
January 20, 2013
Maria Sharapova had too much firepower for Kirsten Flipkens © AP
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Maria Sharapova's stunning run of form continued as she crushed Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The No. 2 seed did not drop a game for two rounds and after digging in to nip a fightback from Venus Williams in the bud, she produced a sizzling display to crush Flipkens.

Sharapova won both of their two previous meetings and she ensured there was no shock by ousting the only non-seeded player remaining in the bottom half of the draw.

Flipkens held her opening service game, but that was the only success the Belgian had in the contest. She surrendered her serve in the third game with a double fault and from that moment, she was overwhelmed by the power of Sharapova.

Sharapova hit 14 winners to Flipkens' two and after taking the opening set in 43 minutes, raced through the second in a mere 25.

Up next for Sharapova is a clash with fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova who advanced to her second successive Australian Open quarter-final with a 7-5 6-4 win over No. 5 seed Angelique Kerber.

Kerber stepped on court as the overwhelming favourite, but she encountered Makarova in blistering form. Makarova hit 32 winners and despite suffering a wobble toward the end of the first set, she held her nerve to book a place in the last-eight.

Agnieszka Radwanska's winning run in 2013 continued with a comfortable 6-2 6-4 win over Ana Ivanovic.

A string of winners flew off the Ivanovic racket, but there were too many errors from the Serb and the consistency of Radwanska shone through. Two breaks of serve were the crucial moments and they both came in the first game of each set.

Radwanska, who has won two titles already this year, will take on Li Na who took out Julia Goerges.

Goerges passed up set points in the opening set and she never recovered, with Li Na producing some blistering play in the second set to secure a 7-6(6) 6-1 success.

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