Updated: May 12, 2005, 6:12 PM ET
Associated Press
ROME -- Top-seeded Maria Sharapova defeated Mary Pierce 7-6 (4), 6-4
in the third round of the Italian Open on Thursday.
Sharapova next faces ninth-seeded Elena Bovina, who edged Paola Suarez
of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). If she wins the tournament, Sharapova
can overtake Lindsay Davenport for the No. 1 world ranking.
"Yeah, it would be an amazing feeling," Sharapova said of the top
ranking. "But I'm just trying to take one match at a time. I know
expectations are high. I'm just trying to keep cool out there."
Sharapova squandered a 5-2 lead over Pierce in the first set. But
Pierce, the 1997 winner here, hit backhands into the net to let
Sharapova take control of the tiebreak and win it. In the second
set, Sharapova had four service breaks to Pierce's two.
The Russian could have taken the top ranking last week with a
victory at the German Open, but lost to eventual champion Justine
Henin-Hardenne in the quarterfinals.
Playing in her seventh career clay-court tournament, Sharapova has
never advanced past the quarterfinals.
"As the weeks go on I think I'm playing better on clay," Sharapova said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2058602
節錄有莎娃的部份~
莎娃加油呀，在紅土上拼個好成績吧~
莎娃之吼~~~XD
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/ten/2005/0512/photo/g_sharapova_et.jpg
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※ 編輯: jcshie 來自: 140.119.141.211 (05/13 08:52)