Los Angeles--(lawntennis.org) Since her October shoulder surgery and subsequent May return to the WTA Tour, the former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia has struggled to get past some subpar serving but has not experienced too many problems in executing her overpowering return of serve.
Friday night in the quarterfinals at the L. A. Women's Tennis Championships, the 22 year old Sharapova used an aggressive return of serve to hit past the 18 year old Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 7-5.
Despite not serving well, Sharapova took set one 6-4 in one hour with a relentless attack of Radwanska's second serve.
However the Russian, screaming with each stroke of her racket, fell behind early in set two 3-4.
Then serving down several breakpoints, Sharapova fought off spirited play from Radwanska before doublefaulting finally to trail 3-5.
Pressure from the baseline from Sharapova resulted in a momentum change in the set as the Russian would win three games in a row to lead 6-5 before serving for the match.
Sharapova then struck her 43rd unforced error of the contest before connecting with a surprising second serve ace out wide to reach matchpoint.
