Sharapova relishing new-found freedom

Maria Sharapova has put her Wimbledon rivals on alert by claiming she is running into form at the just the right time.

The Russian has been plagued by injury since lifting the crown as a 17-year-old in 2004 but she has made an impressive start to the season, reaching the semi-finals in six of the first seven events of the year.

Sharapova has moved serenely through to the last 16 at Wimbledon and is fancied to get the better of Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, despite being shunted on to Court Two today, when all eight women’s fourth-round matches will be played.

“My ankle’s doing a lot better,” she said. “It’s not restricting me when I move out there.

“I feel like I’m starting anew. When the points get a bit long, I feel I’m more in control, whereas on clay I felt a little bit out of it.

“I wasn’t moving well because of the tape on my ankle. Without the tape, I feel a lot looser and freer.”

Sharapova is one of three Russians in the last 16, while little-known Shenay Perry is left to fly the Stars and Stripes ahead of American Independence Day following the surprise third-round defeat of 2005 champion Venus Williams.

The 21-year-old Perry, who has belted down 18 aces in her three matches so far, plays Russian seventh seed Elena Dementieva for the first time.

Third-seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, who is hoping to win Wimbledon for the first time to complete a clean sweep of Grand Slam titles, opens up proceedings on Centre Court against a rejuvenated Daniela Hantuchova.

Another Serbian, Jelena Jankovic – surprise conqueror of Williams – takes on ninth seed Anastasia Myskina seeking to avenge last year’s third-round defeat.

Jankovic’s compatriot Ana Ivanovic is aiming to relive her greatest moment when she plays top seed Amelie Mauresmo.

The 18-year-old Swiss-based Ivanovic says the most memorable experience of her fledgling career was her three-set victory over the French ace at Roland Garros last year.

That was one of six meetings between the two over the last 18 months, with world number one Mauresmo leading their head-to-head 4-2.