Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova | AP
Tennis
Maria Sharapova marches into Tianjin semi-finals
The Russian and former number one easily defeated Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-1 in 64 minutes.
TIANJIN: Maria Sharapova equalled her best performance since returning from a doping suspension when she reached the Tianjin Open semi-finals on Friday.
The Russian easily defeated Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-1 in 64 minutes. The former world number one will face either China's Peng Shuai or Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo in the last four.
Sharapova returned from a 15-month suspension in April for taking the banned substance meldonium.
In her first tournament back, in Stuttgart, she made it to the semi-finals but has been unable to repeat that feat again, until now.
The 30-year-old ranked 86 in the world, was granted a wildcard for Tianjin because her ranking was too low.