Sharapova and Serena Power Into Miami Quarterfinals
Maria Sharapova moved on to the quarterfinals of the 2014 Sony Open Tennis event in Miami on Monday, battling back to defeat Kirsten Flipkens, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Each time Sharapova has advanced to the quarterfinals in Miami (2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013), she has finished runner-up each time.
Sharapova will now face Petra Kvitova, who also battled back after dropping the first set, a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 winner over Ana Ivanovic.
"She's a different type of opponent," Sharapova said of Flipkens. "There are not too many girls that hit a slice backhand 90 percent of the time in the rallies. But I know what to expect from her game. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise."
Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals Monday as well, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over fellow American Coco Vandeweghe.
"Coco has such an amazing serve, so every time I was returning I was like, 'Hopefully I can touch the ball'," said Serena.
Serena will next face the fifth-seed Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals, a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 winner Monday over Ekaterina Makarova
Li Na and Caroline Wozniacki also booked their way into the quarterfinals on Monday. Li needed a little over an hour to defeat the number 15 seed, Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-0, 6-2, while Wozniacki, the number 10 seed, was a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Varvara Lepchenko.
"My husband hits a pretty similar ball to Navarro," said Li of prepping for her match with Navarro "A little bit of topspin, a one-handed backhand. It was good for me."
Li will meet Wozniacki in the quarterfinals, as Li has a 3-2 advantage in five career meetings.
