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Sharapova's finally up to speed
30.09.09
Maria Sharapova recovered from a slow start to reach the quarterfinals of Tokyo's Pan Pacific Open with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Alisa Kleybanova.
The former world No1 seized control in the second set when she broke her fellow Russian three times to open up a 5-0 lead.
Sharapova said: "She started off really strong. Nobody had much of a warm-up today and she coped much better with that than me."
Tomorrow she will face Czech Iveta Benesova, who beat Taiwan's Chang Kai-chan 7-5, 6-2.
Jelena Jankovic remained on course to win a third title in 2009 as she made light work of Russian Elena Vesnina.
The Serb won the first set 6-1 and was 3-0 up in the second when her opponent retired injured. Jankovic will now play France's Marion Bartoli.
