Sharapova makes hard work of win

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova survived a major scare before setting up an Australian Open showdown with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Sharapova was a set and a break down to Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia before fighting back to win 4-6 6-1 6-2 in today’s fourth round in Melbourne.

The 17-year-old will now face Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals, the US Open champion beating Vera Douchevina – one of a record seven Russians in the last 16 - 6-4 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

Kuznetsova, who is still considering legal action against the Belgian sports minister who has accused her of failing a drugs test in December, said: “I was happier today with my game than during my last match, because I made less unforced errors.

“But still I think there is a little bit to get in my game and I hope next match I’m going to play better.

"Well, I have to.”

The 19-year-old won her first grand slam title at Flushing Meadows last year and admits that has changed her expectations.

“Definitely when I play grand slams it’s not enough for me to pass two or three rounds,” she added. “I want to go higher and higher.

“Now I’m in the quarter-finals. Before the US Open quarter-finals was a good result for me. Now I want to go forward and improve my game.”

Douchevina had been one of only two unseeded players to make it to the last 16, and the other soon followed her out of the competition.

Russia’s Evgenia Linetskaya defeated 21st seed Amy Frazier in the third round but found second seed Amelie Mauresmo a different proposition today.

Mauresmo, without a grand slam final appearance since losing to Martina Hingis here in 1999, won 6-2 6-4 and will face either Serena Williams or Nadia Petrova in the quarter-finals.