Sharapova began the match in form so hot, Petkovic didn't so much wilt as completely dissolve under her opponent's intensity. Sharapova was a picture of determination, hitting everything on the front foot to reel off winner after winner.
Too hot to handle
The Russian no.7 seed, whose Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006) and Australian Open (2008) titles make her the only Grand Slam champion remaining in the draw besides Francesca Schiavone, was a picture of determination as she attacked the opening set.
Sharapova couldn't put a foot wrong, clobbering winners into the corners of the court and varying the spin and pace of her shots to discombobulate Petkovic and draw a rash of errors from the German's racquet.
Granted Petkovic gave Sharapova plenty to work with - hitting most of her shots down the middle of the court, the majority bouncing inside the service line. But Sharapova was like a threshing machine, addressing each and every ball she faced as if she wanted to shear the cover off it.
The no.7 seed shrugged off one break point in the fourth game of the opener, and another in the sixth, as if she was playing a mere practise set and after 32 minutes on court headed to the chair leading 6-0.
Time to regroup
Petkovic took a lengthy bathroom break before the start of the second set but, when she returned to the court, appeared to have regrouped somewhat, staying in the rallies with her opponent and forcing Sharapova to stretch outside the comfort zone of her double-handed backhand. The German had game points to hold in the opening game of the second set, but Sharapova simply bludgeoned her way out of trouble once more, quickly advancing to a 2-0 lead.
Petkovic persevered, finally getting a game on the board after 51 minutes of play. Temporarily unearthing the forehand winners that served her so well earlier this fortnight at Roland Garros, Petkovic broke the Sharapova serve on her third break point opportunity of the match, drawing her opponent to the net with a backhand drop shot before lobbing her to claim the decisive point.
Close-fought points in the fifth and sixth games of the second set saw the pair exchange breaks again, Sharapova's concentration wavering just slightly to allow her no.15-seeded opponent to nab a third game for the match.
That was Petkovic's lot, Sharapova throwing caution to the wind and blustering through the remainder of the match in the same dominant style that saw her serve up a bagel to Petkovic in the opener. Petkovic's staying power improved, allowing the 23-year-old to go toe-to-toe with her 24-year-old opponent in many rallies. But in the end, that simply made for longer points, Sharapova's superior shot-making winning the day.
Sharapova held two match points leading 5-3 and serving for the match, Petkovic saved the first with a rare clean backhand down the line winner off an equally rare second serve, but netted a forehand on the next point to hand Sharapova the match and a semifinal berth against China's Li Na, 6-0, 6-3.
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Li vs Sharapova
Thursday ( 02 June ) 14:00 (GMT +2)
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