Maria Sharapova says 'great plan' came together to reach Stuttgart quarter-finals

Back in action: Maria Sharapova
Bongarts/Getty Images
28 April 2017

Maria Sharapova said she had executed “a great plan” to beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova to reach the quarter-finals of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Former world No1 Sharapova, who was playing her second match since serving a 15-month ban for taking the banned drug meldonium, won 7-5, 6-1 in just one hour and 20 minutes.

“Being in the quarter-finals here again is quite special,” said Sharapova, who will next meet Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia.

“Being the second match and playing yesterday and getting all the emotions out, I feel I settled down a little bit today.

“I was able to focus on my game and I executed a great plan.”

Elsewhere, world No2 and defending champion Angelique Kerber was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by France’s Kristina Mladenovic in the second round.

Maria Sharapova | Possible schedule

April
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Stuttgart April 26 - 29
May
Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid May 5 - 12
Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome May 14 - 20
French Open, Paris May 22 - June 5
July
Wimbledon July 3 - 16

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