Sharapova Cruises to Easy Win in Miami at Sony Ericsson Open
March 25, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Fans in Miami have waited four years to see Maria Sharapova take the court. Her last match in Miami prior to this one was a fourth round loss against Serena Williams in 2007. After missing the previous three Sony Ericsson Opens with various injuries, she opened night session play on Stadium Court with an easy win, over Croatian Petra Martic, 6-3, 6-2 in their second round match.
Sharapova started fast, winning eight of nine points for a 2-0 first set lead. From there she cruised the rest of the match and finished off Martic in one hour and seven minutes.
Sharapova’s third round opponent is German Sabine Lisicki, who led 18th-seeded Nadia Petrova, 4-6, 6-3, 3-1, before the Russian retired with a case of vertigo. Sharapova is looking to build on her semifinals appearance at last week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Miami Heat star and NBA all-star Chris Bosh was in attendance.