Sharapova into Kremlin Cup quarter-finals

Home favourite Maria Sharapova has breezed into the quarter-finals of the WTA Kremlin Cup with a straight-sets win over compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova.

Sharapova, ranked third in the world and second here, won 6-4, 7-5 in one hour 46 minutes in her first ever match against 21-year-old Bychkova on Wednesday.

US Open winner Sharapova, 19, who enjoyed a first round bye here, broke her rival's serve halfway into the opening set to gain a minimum advantage, which she kept through to lift herself one set up in 49 minutes.



Sharapova, seeking a fourth title of the season (and her 14th career one), started the second sey with an immediate break but unheralded qualifier Bychkova, 94th in the WTA rankings, refused to surrender and broke back twice to a 5-3 lead.

She served for the set but Sharapova tightened her play and took four consecutive games to win the set and the match.

"I got a little bit floppy in the middle of the second set," Sharapova said after the match. "I had a bye, while she has already played four matches here.

"I don't think I've started badly after not playing for four weeks."