Maria Sharapova powers past Loit

Third-seeded Maria Sharapova pulverized Frenchwoman Emilie Loit 6-0 6-1 on Thursday to cruise into the third round of the U.S. Open.

The 19-year-old Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion and an Open semi-finalist last year, took only 52 minutes to dispatch the 27-year-old Loit, who seemed to have no weapons to threaten the Russian.



Loit was credited with just one winner in the second-round match, coming on a forehand that crawled over the netcord to save a match point in the last game.



Sharapova will next meet compatriot Elena Likhovtseva, the 32nd seed, who beat Australian Nicole Pratt to advance.