Serena routs Sharapova in Miami

Williams won the last six games of the match

Serena Williams crushed top seed Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-1 to reach the last eight of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Williams, playing in her first event since beating the world number two in the Australian Open final in January, took just 58 minutes to win in Miami.

Thirteenth seed Williams, a three-time champion in Miami, faces eighth seed Nicole Vaidisova in the quarter-finals.

Justine Henin reached the semi-finals for the first time after beating Nadia Petrova 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4).

The Belgian top seed will now face Anna Chakvetadze, who recorded a 4-6 7-5 6-2 win over Li Na of China.

Sharapova, runner-up at this event in 2005 and 2006, beat Serena's sister Venus in the previous round.

Once Serena gets up in the set or the match, she seems to steamroll Maria Sharapova

But the Russian, who lost her world number one ranking to Henin last week, was overwhelmed by the younger Williams.

"I know her game pretty well. We've played each other a few times and I like her style," said Williams.

Sharapova admitted that she had been dominated in the match.

"Once she gets up in the set or the match she seems to steamroll," said the 20-year-old.

But the US Open champion vowed not to let her confidence be affected by her second successive mauling at the hands of Williams.

"I'm definitely going to be out on the practice court and working hard," said Sharapova.

"I'm not going to look at it as a confidence thing. I have to look at what I'm doing and how I'm going to improve it so it gets better."