Two-time champion Maria Sharapova finally found some rhythm to dispose of stubborn Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic and reach the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open on Wednesday. The French Open holder from Russia, who needed more than three hours to beat qualifier Heather Watson of Britain on Tuesday, showed few signs of fatigue in coming through 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) in the third-round clash. Six out of eight games in the first set went against serve. Sharapova’s service game had also been a problem against Watson. “After winning the first set, I was up 3-0 in the second set. I didn’t think it was going into a tie-break,” said Sharapova, 25. “She had an opportunity to serve out for the second set and I was frustrated in that situation.” “After the long match yesterday, I’m very happy to be able to win today. I was a little bit down in the second set and I’m just happy to win in two sets,” added Sharapova, winner in Tokyo in 2005 and 2009. Safarova, ranked 17th against Sharapova’s second in the world, came back from 0-3 down to 3-3 and then 4-4 before hitting a fine service return winner on break point to take a 5-4 lead in the second set.
