Maria Sharapova returned to the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in more than three years, defeating Andrea Petkovic 6-0, 6-3 at the French Open in Paris today. The three-time major champion, who can complete a career Grand Slam with a title at Roland Garros, last reached this stage when she won the 2008 Australian Open.
Sharapova had little trouble against Petkovic, a German who lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Sharapova won the opening eight games and overcame two breaks to take the second set. Sharapova will face Li Na of China. The Australian Open finalist defeated fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-2.
Later, five-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal was to play two-time finalist Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals and Andy Murray was to face Juan Ignacio Chela. Sharapova improved her Grand Slam quarterfinal record to 11-3 by beating Petkovic. All three of her losses came at Roland Garros. The other time she reached the semifinals in Paris, she lost to runner-up Ana Ivanovic in 2007.
Besides the Australian Open title, the seventh-seeded Russian also won Wimbledon in 2004 and the U.S. Open in 2006. With a title at Roland Garros, Sharapova will become the 10th woman to complete a career Grand Slam. 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer set up a delectable semifinal match against the Novak Djokovic by defeating Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3).