Maria through to the quater finals in Birmingham

Maria is trough to the quater finals in Birmingham after defeating 16th seed Samantha Stosur of Australia in 3 sets: 6-3 3-6 6-1.


In a repeat of last year's third-round match, the Russian was given her first real test on the surface by the 16th-seeded Australian.


The Wimbledon champion used her greater expertise on the slick surface to romp through the third set having dropped the second.



"She's a much better player than when I played her last time," said Sharapova, who extended her head-to-head record to 4-0 against Stosur.



"She served and volleyed today which she didn't do the last time I played her.



"She really pushed me in the third set but I think it's really good to push me... I enjoy the challenge of being pushed (because that's) when I have to figure out a way to win."



In the quaters she will either play Eleni Daniilidou of Greece or Sugiyama of Japan

View pictures of todays match