By Erik Gudris | Monday, March 24, 2014

 

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova took different paths but each secured their spots into the Sony Open quarterfinals in Miami.

Photo Credit: Corleve

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova once again find themselves in the last eight of the Sony Open in Miami.

Defending champion Williams faced a familiar opponent in American Coco Vandeweghe who came all the way from qualifying to enter the fourth round. Vandeweghe, who reached the Stanford final two years ago before losing to Williams, troubled the top seed early with her big serve.

But Williams managed to secure a lead for 4-2 before a rain delay halted play for nearly an hour. Once back out on court, Vandeweghe looked poised to break back. Williams responded by striking an ace for 5-2.

Taking the first set, Williams kept up the pressure by breaking her opponent to open the second set. Despite Vandeweghe firing in a few outright winners, she couldn't halt Williams who won eight out of nine points a few games later to go up 4-1.

Williams, looking more in control of her game than in previous rounds, soon closed out the 6-3, 6-1 win.

Though happy with her performance, Williams praised Vandeweghe. During their handshake, Williams suggested that they should play doubles together some time in the future if and when elder sister Venus Williams wasn't at the same event.

"Well, she's improved a great deal. Her focus is so much better. Her movement is good. Her attitude is great. She's a nice girl," Williams said when asked why she made the offer. "You know, it's always fun to play with young Americans, I think, and just enjoy it. It's so good to see another American doing really well."

Next up for Williams will be Germany's Angelique Kerber who got past Ekaterina Makarova in three sets.

"Angelique has been able to beat me in the past, so I have to be really focused and be ready in that match," Williams said on the matchup.

Sharapova Squeezes Out Another Tough Win

Maria Sharapova continues her three set trend in Miami but still found a way to emerge the winner over Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens.

Flipkens got off to a quick 4-0 lead in their morning match thanks to sharp winners. Despite having lost their previous four meetings, Flipkens used her power and touch to secure a 6-3 first set. Sharapova roared back to take a 4-0 lead in the second set, but couldn't hold to her advantage.

Flipkens would soon serve to level the set at 5-all. But Sharapova, with a strong return, would break Flipkens at love to claim the set 6-4.

Going up an early break in the decider, Sharapova took control as she eventually wrapped up the 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win.

Waiting for Sharapova in the next round will be Petra Kvitova.

The Czech, despite dropping the opening set to Ana Ivanovic in their third round encounter, cruised to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 win.

Sharapova previewed the matchup having beaten another Czech in Lucie Safarova earlier in the event.

"We haven't played for a long time, but we have always had interesting, tough matches against each other," Sharapova said. "She has a different game than someone like Safarova. She has a powerful game and goes for her shots, and when she's on it's tricky to play against her."