MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- Maria Sharapova powered into her fifth semifinal in as many events this season with a 6-3 6-3 defeat of Russian rival Anastasia Myskina at the Nasdaq-100 Open on Wednesday.
The fourth seed will play Moscow-born Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin, who ended the run of China's Zheng Jie with a scrappy 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory in the quarters.
Sharapova's triumph in the battle of former grand slam winners put her within two more victories of a second consecutive title after winning in Indian Wells less than a fortnight ago.
"I played a clean match," Sharapova told reporters. "I made a lot of errors in my first two matches and knew I had to be patient since she gets a lot of balls back.
"I look forward to improving in the semis and will hope for the best."
The 18-year-old, runner-up here to Kim Clijsters last year, held her nerve after losing three of four times against Myskina in 2004.
Five of the nine games in the second set were breaks of serve as momentum shifted back and forth. Sharapova finished the winner on Myskina's forehand wide.
Sharapova has beaten fellow teenager Golovin both times they have met.
March 30th, 2006
Posted by: Marco
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