Sharapova struggles past Pennetta

By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Sharapova has not reached a Grand Slam final since winning Wimbledon

Title favourite Maria Sharapova came through her toughest match so far to beat Flavia Pennetta and reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

The Russian struggled throughout in fierce heat on Court Two, but battled to a 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3 victory.

Sharapova edged the first set in a tie-break but could never find her rhythm, especially on the forehand.

She dropped the second set but won the decider through sheer determination to set up a clash with Elena Dementieva.

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Whether it was because of the heat, the court or the opponent, Sharapova was not at her best against 16th seed Pennetta.

In the end it came down to how much I fought Maria Sharapova

A total of 41 unforced errors and 10 double faults tells its own story and the famous grunts were becoming increasingly desperate shrieks as the match progressed.

But, willed on as ever her by father Yuri in the stands, the 2004 champion dug deep in the final set, breaking serve in the fourth game and earning a first match point at 5-2.

This was not a day when anything was going to come easy for the fourth seed, however.

Pennetta held on, only for a relieved Sharapova to wrap up victory at the third opportunity in the next game.

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"I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis and in the end it came down to how much I fought," said Sharapova.

"It wasn't really about how good or bad I played, or how good she played, because she played extremely well. I just fought.

"I'm definitely going to have to step it up for my next match."

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo reached the fourth round with a 6-3 6-4 win over Ana Ivanovic.

Ivanovic had won two of the last three times the pair had met but Mauresmo controlled much of the match although she did wobble serving for the match.

She was 5-2 up in the second set when Ivanovic broke her for the first time in the match and the 18-year-old had another break point in Mauresmo's next service game.

I don't think she really cares about the way she plays - she cares more about how she looks Anastasia Myskina on Jelena Jankovic

However, the Australian Open champion, who is yet to drop a set at this year's Wimbledon, finally wrapped up victory over the 19th seed in 68 minutes.

She will now play Anastasia Myskina in a repeat of last year's quarter-final, which the French woman won.

Myskina, who won the French Open in 2004, is yet to drop a set at this year's Wimbledon.

The Russian continued her smooth progress through the draw, with a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win over Jelena Jankovic, who had put out defending champion Venus Williams in the third round.

The ninth seed said she was surprised by Jankovic's attitude during their match.

"I don't think she really cares about the way she plays. She cares more about how she looks. That was kind of strange," said Myskina.

"She was more touching her hair and skirt. It was a little bit distracting.

"She took her towel here, she took her towel there. It was really annoying, but she can play."