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Maria Sharapova made quick work of her 2nd round match against Iveta Benesova, winning easily 6-1, 6-2.

Sharapova, the 14th seed, didn’t face a single break point in her demolition of 68th ranked Benesova of the Czech Republic. Benesova contributed 26 unforced errors to add to her own demise. Sharapova broke down Benesova’s defense with 16 winners, including three aces.

This sets up a 3rd round meeting between Sharapova and the young 18-year-old American, Beatrice Capra, ranked 371 in the world, who upset 18th seed Aravane Rezai 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 earlier today.

Perhaps a new American sensation is spreading her wings as Beatrice Capra upset No. 18 seed Aravane Rezai in the 2010 U.S. Open tournament today.

Playing in her Grand Slam debut as a wild-card entry, Capra is the youngest player left in the women’s field and the lowest-ranked, at 371. It took three sets, but the young American from Ellicott City, Md. pulled it out 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

This is the first tour-level, main-draw event of Capra’s career. She knocked off 95th-ranked Karolina Sprem in the opening round 6-1, 6-3. Capra could face Maria Sharapova next.

No. 14 seed, Maria Sharapova, survived a 3-set scare in her match against No. 60 ranked, Jarmila Groth, while 4th seed, Jelena Jankovic was given a huge scare by 18-year-old Romanian Simona Halep.

Sharapova overcame a deficit and a big-hitting opponent to avoid a significant upset in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Sharapova, the 2006 champion at Flushing Meadows, played solidly and often safely while putting together a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over 60th-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia on Tuesday.

Maria Sharapova of Russia and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia sustained foot injuries during the Cincinnati Open, both while playing against Kim Clijsters.

Sharapova, ranked No. 12, aggravated a heel injury in the championship match against Clijsters. “I felt some pain in my foot late in the second set which kind of scared me so I have been forced to pull out of Montreal,” Sharapova wrote on her official website. “I am hoping I just need a few days of rest.”

Clijsters had advanced after Ivanovic, ranked No. 39, retired from their semifinal matchup due to a foot injury.

It was 4th seed former #1 Kim Clijsters battling it out with 10th seed former #1
Maria Sharapova in the final of the WTA Tour Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA yesterday, Aug. 15th, 2010. The fans got their money’s worth at the 3-set match in which Kim came out the victor, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Maria held three match points with Kim serving at 3-5 in the second set just before rain interrupted the match. Maria was unable to convert and the tension and drama of the moment heightened as play was halted.

Eight seed, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus overwhelmed Russian fifth seed,
Maria Sharapova 6–4, 6-1 in Sunday’s 2010 WTA Tour Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA.

A day after her 21st birthday, Azarenka broke the Russian three times in the first set then took advantage of Sharapova’s 16 unforced errors in the second set while committing only one to win the hardcourt event.

“I haven’t lost a match yet since I turned 21,” Azarenka said. “It’s great. I can have cake now.”

World No. 1 Serena Williams of the USA advanced to the Quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2010 by downing No. 17 Maria Sharapova of Russia.

It was a close match from the start, with the 1st set going to a tie-break. Maria had two set points in the tie-break but was unable to convert. Maria then committed a double fault that was a good foot beyond the service line. That gave Serena her third set point. She slammed an ace down the middle and the first set was hers at 11-9. Serena continued hitting booming serves and went on to win the 2nd set 6-4.

Maria Sharapova of Russia, former World No. 1 and 2004 Wimbledon champion, has easily gained the 3rd round at Wimbledon 2010.

Maria seems to be on cruise control, downing countrywoman, Anastasia Pivovarova 6-1, 6-0, and Raluca Olaru of Romania, 6-1, 6-4.

At this point, Maria seems to have come back quite well from last year’s shoulder injury. She will face Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova of the Czech Republic in round three. Her quarter of the draw sets up a potential match against current World No. 1 Serena Williams of the USA in round four.

On Sunday in Birmingham, England, top-seeded Na Li of China defeated 2nd seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia in the finals of the AEGON Classic 7-5, 6-1.

Maria, who had served well in her previous matches this year at Birmingham, hit seven double faults with only once ace (Na: 3 aces, 0 DFs). Na coverted 4 of 10 break point opportunities against Maria; Maria reached break point against Na only once, though she did score on that occasion.

Maria Sharapova is relieved today after winning her 1st round match against Ksenia Pervak, 6-3, 6-2 during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris.

It was an all-Russian match, pitting No. 12 seed Maria of Nyagan, Russia against unseeded Ksenia of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Ksenia came out determined, and Maria came out a little shaky, resulting in Maria losing her first service game. Ksenia then held to go up 2-0, but Maria began hitting out on her shots and got grooved in, looking more like her old self.