Sharapova moves into French Open quarters

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PARIS: Russian seventh seed Maria Sharapova, the former world number one, edged Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to take her place in the French Open quarter-finals on Monday.

Sharapova, who fought back from 4-1 down in the first set and survived five set points in the second, will meet either 25th-seeded countrywoman Maria Kirilenko or German 15th seed Andrea Petkovic for a place in the semi-finals.

The 24-year-old Sharapova, who previously hit back from a set and 4-1 down against French 17-year-old Caroline Garcia in round two, hit 47 winners and made 44 unforced errors in a performance full of contrasts.

Three times a Grand Slam winner, the Russian is bidding to better her previous best Roland Garros showing of a semi-final appearance in 2007.

A shaky start saw Sharapova fall 4-1 down and she narrowly avoided a 5-1 deficit by surviving two breaks before converting her fifth break point of the seventh game when Radwanska could not retrieve a stinging forehand.

Having hauled herself level, Sharapova went on to take the first set tie-break on her first set point.

Radwanska was powerless to return a bludgeoning first serve and Sharapova reacted by punching the air with relief.

After an initial exchange of breaks in a tightly contested second set, Sharapova blinked first to hand Radwanska a break when she misjudged a lofted forehand from the back of the court that landed a few inches long.

Sharapova had to save five set points -- two at 5-3 down and three at 5-4 -- before breaking back and then converting her first match point when Radwanska hit a backhand wide at the end of a gripping rally.