Serena Williams Beats Sharapova in Miami

Mar 27, 07:49 PM

Current Headlines: Former world No. 1 Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova Tuesday in the fourth round at the $3.45 million Sony Ericsson Open.

Williams beat a then-No. 1 Sharapova in straight sets (6-1, 6-2) in the final at Australian Open and Tuesday beat her 6-1, 6-1.

Williams, eight-time Grand Slam champion, advanced in 59 minutes. The American broke her Russian counterpart on five occasions and was the beneficiary of eight double faults.

Williams, who now has a 10-match winning streak, is playing her first tennis since winning in Melbourne two months ago.

The 19-year-old Sharapova, last year's Miami runner-up to her fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, beat Williams' sister Venus here on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Williams' quarterfinal opponent here on Wednesday will be Czech Nicole Vaidisova, a semifinal loser at the hands of the American at the Australian Open.