Maria Sharapova: 'I fought until the end'

Maria Sharapova has admitted that she didn't play her best tennis despite defeating Sabine Lisicki in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The former world number one claimed a 3-6 6-2 6-3 victory over her German opponent to snatch a place in the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

"[There were] a lot of ups and downs today and fortunately I finished on a high note," said Sharapova. "It was really tough, [Lisicki's] such a good opponent playing with such confidence.

"Big serve, big game so I really had to be ready. Even though I didn't play my best tennis today, I fought until the end and sometimes that's what gets you through."

The Russian pro will have to overcome Ekaterina Makarova in order to reach the semi-finals.