Sharapova sets up Serena showdown

Former Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova set up a fourth-round clash against reigning champion Serena Williams with a 7-5 6-3 triumph over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

The Russian continued to make progress without the loss of a set but will need to sharpen up against Williams after making 35 unforced errors today.

The 23-year-old found big shots when it mattered though to edge out her unseeded opponent.

The first four games of the contest all ended with breaks of service but a tie-break then looked likely until Zahlavova Strycova found the net to go behind.

The Czech broke in the first game of the second set but immediately conceded her advantage and Sharapova, the 2004 champion, broke in the sixth game at the fifth time of asking.

A succession of poor net play saw Sharapova face several break points before moving 5-2 ahead and she eventually finished off the match with an ace.