Maria, Third-seeded, moved into the quarterfinals of the Advanta Tennis Championships yesterday when Jelena Kostenic was forced to retire in the third set because of a strained groin.
Maria split the first two sets 2-6, 6-4 and led 3-0 in the third when Kostenic stopped the match. Kostenic was injured during the second set.
"I couldn't run that good, I was behind the ball," Kostenic said.
It was a rough start for Sharapova, the reigning Wimbledon champion. Kostenic quickly went up 4-0 in the first set before winning easily, then took a 3-0 lead in the second before Sharapova was able to adjust.
Sharapova rallied to win the next four games and take the second set.
Maria: "I wasn't really playing my game at the beginning, I wasn't attacking anything."
In the quarters Maria will play either Alicia Molik or Jelena Jankovic. Maria has played Molik twice before and the series is tied 1-1, Molik won the last meeting in the final of Zurich only a couple of weeks ago.
Maria leads Jankovic 2-0, Maria won that match after Jankovic retired injured in Beijing in September of this year.
November 4th, 2004
Posted by: Marco
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