Sharapova storms into quarters, Errani ousted

MariaSharapova-cropped

Russian top seed Maria Sharapova comfortably dispatched Mariana Duque-Marino in straight sets in the second round of the Mexican Open on Wednesday.

Sharapova - contesting the WTA Mexican event for the first time in her career - required just 68 minutes to record a 6-1 6-2 victory over the Colombian in Acapulco.

The 2015 Australian Open runner-up was far from her best in the first round on Monday, having trailed Shelby Rogers 3-0 in the opening set.

But Sharapova had no such trouble against Duque-Marino, winning 76 per cent of her first service points and converting six break points.

Awaiting Sharapova in the quarters is Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova, who accounted for Elena Bogdan 6-0 6-2.

Sara Errani's campaign came to an end on Wednesday after the Italian second seed was swept aside by Monica Puig 6-1 6-1.

Errani endured a miserable time on court, winning just 13 of 35 points on her first serve and one of seven on her second as Puerto Rico's Puig took advantage to progress to the quarters.

Next up for Puig is Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva, who beat Kiki Bertens 6-1 6-4.

There was better news for seeds Caroline Garcia and Timea Bacsinszky.

Garcia - the French third seed - posted a 6-2 6-3 win against American Bethanie Mattek-Sands to earn a quarter-final clash with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Lucic-Baroni rallied from a set down to beat Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5.

Swiss fifth seed Bacsinszky needed one hour, 41 minutes to overcome Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

Standing in the way of Bacsinszky is Swede Johanna Larsson, who was comfortable in a 6-1 6-2 win over Aleksandra Krunic.

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