By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 15, 2015

 

Maria Sharapova swept Victoria Azarenka, 6-3, 6-2, storming into her fifth Rome semifinal.

Photo credit: Internazionali BNL D'Italia

In a clash of Grand Slam champions striking with piercing power, Maria Sharapova pressed the mute button on Victoria Azarenka.

Playing bold first-strike tennis, Sharapova swept Azarenka, 6-3, 6-2, to surge into the Rome semifinals for the fifth time.

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It was Sharapova's 60th victory in her last 66 clay-court matches and sets up an all-Russian rematch with qualifier Daria Gavrilova, who upset Sharapova in her Miami opener in March. Gavrilova defeated American qualifier Christina McHale, 6-2, 6-4, to raise her 2015 record to 33-8.

Despite serving just 44 percent, Sharapova backed up her second serve with conviction winning 68 of her second-serve points and denying two of three break points.

The third-seeded Russian commanded the center of the court to continue her clay-court mastery of the Belarusian in their 15th meeting. Sharapova now holds an 8-7 edge in their head-to-head series, winning all four of their clay-court meetings.

Sharapova set the tone from the start, stepping inside the baseline to punish the Azarenka serve. The two-time Rome champion won 12 of 21 points played on Azarenka's serve and converted both of her break points crusing through the first set.

The 29th-ranked Azarenka had gone the distance in two of her three matches this week and was looking leg-weary by the time the second set started. Sharapova broke to open the second and quickly consolidated.

After holding for 1-2, Azarenka called for coach Wim Fissette, who advised his charge to try to shorten up the points.

"Just try focusing more on the legs, moving toward every ball, cutting off the angles," Fissette said. "If the legs are not there, then just take more risk in the first two or three shots. Don't go for longer rallies."

A sharp Sharapova never let Azarenka close the gap. Squandering a 40-15 lead in a sloppy fifth game, Azarenka hit two double faults and sailed a forehand, to surrender serve and fall into a 1-4 hole.  Sharapova saved a break point with a second serve down the middle that Azarenka flailed wide, eventually holding for 5-1.

Another Azarenka double fault dropped her into a triple match point hole. She saved all three, grinding through a hard-fought hold forcing Sharapova to serve for the semifinals at 5-2.

A tricky backhand drop shot crawling with sidespin, errant Azarenka backhand and a twisting topspin forehand that dropped inside the line gave Sharapova a fourth match point. When Azarenka belted a forehand beyond the baseline, Sharapova had her second win of the season over the former No. 1 in 92 minutes.