Sharapova’s 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win sets up a potential blockbuster quarter-final showdown with Serena Williams on Friday night, providing the American can overcome Maria Kirilenko today.
However she admitted she was rather fortunate to defeat the experienced Hantuchova after a dramatic second set turnaround. Sharapova looked in full control for the first thirty minutes, overpowering the Slovak with fierce shots from the back of the court.
Hantuchova may have been outplayed but she was not going quietly and suddenly the momentum shifted overwhelmingly in her favour. She hit a purple patch in the second set, racing through seven straight games to go a break up in the decider.
“I felt overall I had a good first set, then it went away. I was returning well and attacking the first ball, and somehow it just got away from me," Sharapova said. "When a player sees that and gets that confidence, it's tough to get that back.”
Sharapova was reeling but Hantuchova could not finish her off and with trademark tenacity, the Russian broke twice in a row to wrest back control of the match.
There used to be no shortage of animosity between Sharapova and Serena but the two seem to be doing their best to play that down ahead of Friday’s projected showdown.
"Serena has been out for a while, but you can never underestimate her playing a great match and being a great competitor," Sharapova said.
