WTA: Next quarter-final for Sharapova – Svitolina makes a comeback

Maria Sharapova has reached the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Rome once again. The 31-year-old beat the Australian Daria Gavrilova 6-3, 6-4. Elina Svitolina is also among the last eight after a chase to catch up.

Gavrilova had to return to the Foro Italico field just 16 hours after her win over Garbine Muguruza, who lasted well over three hours and defended two match points.

It was only logical that Sharapova started the game better. But Gavrilova could make up some ground after a 1:5 deficit, Sharapova could take off the serve once, just to get the short end.

In the second set, the Russian won all of the new points that Gavrilova opened on the second serve. After one hour and 38 minutes, Sharapova, who beat 38 winners in 32 unforced mistakes, was the winner.

The three-time Rome winner will now play Elena Ostapenko, who eliminated Jo Konta 2:6, 6:3, 6:4.

The number four of the tournament Svitolina caught an unfavorable set in her match against Daria Kasatkina. She only won seven points, but at 0:3 she lost twelve rallies in a row.

“It was a slow start, but she played incredible tennis,” said Svitolina. “On the one hand, I couldn’t find my rhythm, but she played great. The spectators brought me back into the match in the second set and helped me incredibly.”

In the second round, she broke 1-0, 4-3 and 6-3, while she was able to improve on her own serve. In the decisive set, she had to take a 2-1 break, but grabbed the last five games of the game.

In the quarter-finals, Svitolina is opposed to Angie Kerber, who only played two games in her match against Maria Sakkari.