Russian third seed Maria Sharapova advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA and ATP Miami Masters hardcourt tournament with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Italian eighth seed Sara Errani on Wednesday. Sharapova fired six aces but made 14 double faults before saving a break point in the 10th game of the second set. She then broke Errani in the penultimate game and held serve to end it on a forehand winner after just under 2 1/2 hours.

International Sports Desk, Mar 24 (EFE).- American Venus Williams, the 19th seed, pulled out of the Sony Open in Miami before her match against countrywoman Sloane Stephens due to back problems. The 32-year-old Williams, who won the title in Miami in 1998, 1999 and 2001, is a former world No. 1 who has won seven Grand Slam titles. The 20-year-old Stephens will play defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland next. Radwanska struggled in her 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova at the Crandon Park tennis center on Key Biscayne.

Serena Williams got her quest for a record sixth WTA title on the hardcourts of Miami off to a brisk start on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta. The world No. 1 and top seed, playing her first tournament since falling to Victoria Azarenka in the final at Doha in February, said she didn't feel too rusty, although her footwork could improve. "I think I missed a few shots, but only because I think I was off footwork-wise. "But it's always just good just to win a match and stay in the tournament and keep going."

Maria Sharapova stepped it up when she had to on Tuesday to set up an Indian Wells quarter-final clash with Sara Errani, a rematch of last year's French Open final. Russia's Sharapova defeated Errani in straight sets in the championship match at Roland Garros to complete a career Grand Slam. The Russian star, who won Indian Wells in 2006 and finished runner-up last year to Victoria Azarenka, started slowly against Spain's Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino but turned up the heat to win 7-5, 6-0. Sharapova dropped her first service game to hand the Spaniard a 2-0 lead.