Maria Sharapova Advances On Day 5 Of 2013 Sony Open; Victoria Azarenka Withdraws

Maria Sharapova (click to enlarge)

Maria Sharapova comes into the 2013 Sony Open fresh off a great title run at the 2013 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The question I had coming into Miami was whether she could duplicate her trophy winning performance with both Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams in the field. We will know soon enough about the Serena part of that equation, but as for Vika…well, she has pulled out of Miami with her ankle still troubling her. It’s too bad, on a basic human level as I don’t want to see anybody hurt. However, it’s also disappointing from a tennis standpoint. While I am pulling for Masha to do well, it seems these days only Vika can consistently compete with Serena. Still, Sharapova did what she needed to do against Eugenie Bouchard, taking care of business 2 and love. Maybe Masha will prove me wrong and find a way to stop the losing streak against Serena. First, she has to get to that match. Both of them do. If they can advance that far, it would be the final most sponsors and fans would want to see, possibly even if Vika hadn’t withdrawn.

WTA Singles – Second Round

*[LL] L Davis (USA) d. [WC] M Keys (USA) 61 57 76(7) – saved 3 M.P.
[3] M Sharapova (RUS) d. [WC] E Bouchard (CAN) 62 60
[6] A Kerber (GER) d. F Schiavone (ITA) 67(5) 63 62
[8] S Errani (ITA) d. D Hantuchova (SVK) 63 61
[11] N Petrova (RUS) d. J Zheng (CHN) 63 61
[12] A Ivanovic (SRB) d. U Radwanska (POL) 62 61
[14] M Kirilenko (RUS) d. [Q] B Mattek-Sands (USA) 61 64
[15] R Vinci (ITA) d. C Mchale (USA) 67(2) 61 63
S Kuznetsova (RUS) d. [18] E Makarova (RUS) 64 64
[20] C Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. J Hampton (USA) 57 75 76(3) – saved 1 M.P.
[21] K Zakopalova (CZE) d. A Medina Garrigues (ESP) 63 76(3)
[22] J Jankovic (SRB) d. [WC] V Duval (USA) 63 75
S Halep (ROU) d. [26] T Paszek (AUT) 61 67(4) 75
[28] S Cirstea (ROU) d. [Q] S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 26 75 62
[29] E Vesnina (RUS) d. [Q] D Vekic (CRO) 64 62
[32] A Cornet (FRA) d. L Robson (GBR) 57 75 61

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MARIA SHARAPOVA