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Sharapova sets up tussle with teen sensation Paszek

Maria Sharapova waves to the crowd after beating Liliana Osterloh at the Birmingham DFS Classic women's tennis tournament in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Maria Sharapova will face fast-rising Austrian Tamira Paszek for a place in the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament here after sweeping US qualifier Liliana Osterloh aside 6-4, 6-0 on Wednesday in her first grass court outing of the year.

Paszek, 16, upset 13th-seeded American Meilen Tu 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) to book her date with the world No. 2, and Sharapova admitted she would be wary of an opponent who has risen 300 places up the world rankings in less than two years.

"It's the beginning of her career, she's getting a feel for the different level so I can't underestimate her," Sharapova said. "She's a young player and going into the game she will have nothing to lose."

Paszek said she was happy with her form after finding her feet on grass.

'emotional'

"It is a great experience for me playing against these players. It's very emotional for me to play such an experienced player like Meilen. I knew it was going to be a tough match because Meilen is such a good player," Paszek said.

Seventh seed Ai Sugiyama became the first big casualty of the tournament when she lost 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 to fellow Japanese player Ayumi Morita, a qualifier ranked 200th in the world.

Chan Yung-jan

Eighth seed Mara Santangelo, of Italy, and sixth seed Alona Bondarenko, of Ukraine, both came safely through their first matches. Santangelo dropped a set against India's Sania Mirza in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) victory, while Bondarenko breezed past Taiwan's Chan Yung-jan in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

World No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, fresh from her semi-final appearance in the French Open, also made a confident start to her preparations for Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Bulgarian teenager Tsvetana Pironkova before the first rain of the tournament fell.

Jankovic will next meet Russian teenager Maria Kirilenko, the 16th seed.
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