Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova maintained her unbeaten record in 2008 as she powered her way into the semifinals of the Qatar Open with a victory in less than an hour.

The fourth seed brushed aside 17-year-old Danish prospect Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-0, her 12th successive victory in all competitions.

"It was a pretty solid performance apart from one game in the second set," said Sharapova. "I felt pretty comfortable from the beginning. I was aggressive. I served and returned pretty well and felt good."

A resurgent Maria Sharapova maintained her perfect start to the season at the Qatar Open on Wednesday.

Seeing her first tournament action since winning the Australian Open last month, the fourth-seeded Sharapova defeated fellow Russian Galina Voskoboeva, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, in the second round of the $2.5 million event.

Including her title at Melbourne and two Fed Cup wins in Russia's first-round tie with Israel earlier this month, Sharapova has now won all her 10 matches this season.

Moscow 2010 says that Maria Sharapova, one of the world’s top tennis players, has pledged her support for Moscow’s bid to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Sharapova said at a press conference, “I have said in the past that both Moscow and Singapore are strong candidates to host the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games. My heart beats for Moscow and I hope it will be elected to stage these Games”.

She added, “I am confident Moscow has all it needs to deliver an unforgettable global youth festival”.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced an extension of its global marketing relationship with tennis star Maria Sharapova through 2010.  The relationship will continue to include global advertising, retail promotions and events. 

Sharapova, the world's 5th ranked women's tennis player, has won three grand slams during her career - the Australian Open in 2008, the U.S. Open in 2006 and Wimbledon in 2004.  Sharapova has been with Canon since 2004 and her winning record on the court as well as her style, presence and elegance off it, make her a natural global representative for Canon the brand.

Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova defeated Tzipi Obziler 6-0 6-4 in her Fed Cup debut, helping defending champions Russia level 1-1 with Israel in the first round on Saturday.

Maria Sharapova extended her fine start to 2008 with victory in her first Fed Cup match for Russia.

Earlier, Israel's Shahar Peer rallied to defeat Dinara Safina 0-6 6-2 6-2.

Sharapova led 5-1 in the second set after sweeping the first before Obziler won three straight games with the support of the 6,000-capacity crowd at Ramat Hasharon Tennis Center.