Sharapova, Wickmayer win twice in 1 day to make quarters at Birmingham

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Sharapova wins twice in 1 day to make quarters

BIRMINGHAM, England — Maria Sharapova won both of her matches Thursday to reach the quarterfinals at the rain-delayed Aegon Classic.

Sharapova needed three days to complete her first win on grass this year, a 6-0, 6-3 defeat of U.S. Fed Cup player Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She then returned to the court for a 6-3, 6-1 win against Alla Kudryavtseva, the fellow Russian who upset her at Wimbledon two years ago.

Sharapova had 11 aces in cold, windy conditions and conceded only two points on serve in the second set.

Sharapova will face Kazakh qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva on center court Friday, if it is ready. The main court was unavailable Thursday — despite no rain — because the covers weren’t big enough to accommodate the whole court.

Karatantcheva defeated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Yanina Wickmayer won twice on Thursday, defeating 16-year-old Laura Robson and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Top-seeded Li Na of China beat Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-2, 6-4, then faced Angelique Kerber of Germany.