Maria Sharapova back into Birmingham semifinals after win against qualifier

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Sharapova back into Birmingham semifinals

BIRMINGHAM, England — Maria Sharapova defeated qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Aegon Classic semifinals on Friday.

Sharapova has made the semifinals in five of seven visits to Birmingham, where the Edgbaston Priory Club has made her an honorary life member.

On Saturday, she’ll face Alison Riske, a 19-year-old American qualifier who upset third-seeded Yanina Wickmayer 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3

The Russian senses the chance for a third title now that her surgically repaired right shoulder is less of a problem.

“I definitely feel in a better situation,” Sharapova said. “Last year, I wasn’t sure how my arm was going to hold up, and I was always on the watch out for that. But I feel much better about it now.”

Sharapova made it to the semis in her debut as a qualifier in 2003, won the grass-court title in 2004 and 2005 and was runner-up in 2007.

Riske, who gave up a scholarship at Vanderbilt University to turn professional, played aggressively with fewer errors against Wickmayer.

Wickmayer had a bleeding lip while dropping serve to lose the second set. She double-faulted in the sixth game of the final set to hand Riske the decisive break.

Sharapova broke Karatantcheva’s serve in the opening game and broke again for a 4-1 lead.

However, Karatantcheva, who reached the French Open quarterfinals five years ago as a 15-year-old, began trading heavy strokes from the baseline and working hard to contain the second-seeded Sharapova’s fierce hitting.

Sharapova also used the opportunity to change the direction of her attack, producing three successful drop shots, and managed to return two balls left-handed under pressure.

She faltered only once, when trying to close out the match. Three times she went break point down before ending it with a solid second serve that caused a return error.

“It will get tougher from here,” Sharapova told the crowd before blowing kisses to all four corners.