Sports

Sharapova beats Suarez Navarro to reach semifinals at Brisbane International

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a shot in her quarterfinal match against Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) (The Associated Press)

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts after she won her quarterfinal match against Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) (The Associated Press)

Maria Sharapova moved into the Brisbane International semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Carla Suarez Navarro on Thursday, weathering a challenging opening few games before taking the momentum away from her Spanish rival.

Top-seeded Sharapova dropped her opening service game and then needed eight breakpoints before converting for a 2-1 lead. From there, it was straight-forward progress.

The reigning French Open champion has dropped just five games across her opening two matches of the season and next faces Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who came from a set and a break down to beat third-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Third-seeded Milos Raonic moved into the men's quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 second-round win over Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan. Roger Federer was scheduled to play a night match.