Sharapova impressive in victory over Pierce

Second-seeded Maria Sharapova advanced to the semifinals in the Acura Classic on Friday, routing defending champion Mary Pierce 6-2, 6-3.

Sharapova, ranked No. 4, won her third consecutive straight-set match as she overwhelmed Pierce in 1 hour, 8 minutes. The Russian teenager ran off seven straight games to overcome a 2-1 first-set deficit and take a 2-0 lead in the second.
"I thought I played solid," said Sharapova, who reached the semis for the eighth time in nine tournaments this season. "After that first break in the second set, I felt pretty much in control."

Sharapova will face fifth-seeded Patty Schnyder on Saturday. Schnyder beat fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-3.

Sharapova wasted little time dispatching Pierce, who was playing in her third tournament after missing six months with injuries. The sixth-seeded Pierce had few answers for Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion.

"She's always dangerous just because she has all the experience behind her," Sharapova said. "Obviously, she has not played a lot, but you really can't worry about that because she can swing freely and hit some big shots."

Sharapova utilized her serve well, winning 77 percent of the points off her first serve.

Pierce, who did not move well throughout the match, played with her right thigh wrapped, but she called it "preventative."