Key Biscayne, FL – Three-time runner-up Maria Sharapova was a hard-fought fourth-round winner Monday at the $4.828 million Sony Ericsson Open.
The second-seeded former world No. 1 snuck past fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in 2 hours, 13 minutes on Day 7 at Crandon Park. The three-time Grand Slam champion moved on despite piling up 11 double faults.
Sharapova was the Miami runner-up in 2005, 2006 and last year, when she lost to current No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the final. She was also this year's Aussie Open runner-up to Azarenka and last year's Wimbledon runner-up to Petra Kvitova.
Seventh-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli reached the quarters by pasting 22nd-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-2 in 66 minutes. The former Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli fired seven aces and broke Kirilenko six times.
This week's big winner will collect $712,000.
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