Maria Sharapova screamed and sparkled in equal measure here in the Wimbledon sunshine, wasting no time in despatching China’s Peng Shuai in straight sets and booking her place in the quarter finals.
Russia’s former Wimbledon champion, who has been improving with quiet efficiency – no, make that noisy efficiency - throughout the tournament, evidently did not fancy hanging around for too long in the energy-sapping conditions as she took just 81 minutes to defeat the 20th seed 6-4 6-2.
In the blazing heat, Peng initially promised to make this a war of attrition but the accuracy of her groundstrokes was more erratic than usual as Sharapova, whose comeback to something near her best has been one of tennis’s more inspiring tales this season, gradually bullied her into submission with the uncomplicated power of her game.
Sharapova’s first service game, a five-deuce 12 minute affair during which she saved two break points, immediately suggested it could be an awkward affair for her out in the Court Two bowl, watched by her boyfriend, NBA star Sasha Vujacic
Indeed, Peng, who has ended the hopes of British number one Elena Baltacha in the second round, served impressively,allowing Sharapova, herself a victor over Laura Robson at that stage, little opportunity for a breakthrough until a lack of concentration at 4-4.
A couple of unforced errors – about half the amount she normally delivers every match – allied to some spectacular, never say die retrieving from the Russian, enabled Sharapova to make the crucial breakthrough. She then confirmed the advantage by serving out to love to take the first set in 46 minutes.
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