Sharapova reaches quarter-finals at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) –

Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a forehand return against Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino of Spain during their WTA fourth round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on March 12, 2013. Sharapova won 7-5, 6-0.

French Open champion Maria Sharapova booked her quarter-final berth at the Indian Wells ATP Masters and WTA tournament on Tuesday with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino.

Sharapova, ranked third in the world and seeded second here behind defending champion Victoria Azarenka, will face sixth-seeded Italian Sara Errani in a rematch of their French Open final last year.

Sharapova defeated Errani 6-3, 6-2 in the title match at Roland Garros to complete a career Grand Slam. She also beat Errani last October in first-round group play at the season-ending WTA Championships.

Errani, who won the women’s clay-court title in Acapulco in the build-up to Indian Wells, advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France.