Maria Sharapova powers past Shuai Peng

Number two seed Maria Sharapova put in a dominant performance to defeat Shuai Peng in the fourth round of the Australian Open this morning.

Both players started strongly on serve with some confident play early in the first set, until the Russian secured the first break as she produced a series of excellent shots to take a 4-2 lead.

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Peng battled back in the next game to level the set as she displayed her quality from the back of the court, but Sharapova upped the ante with another break and then held out to secure the first set 6-3.

The number two seed started the second set in the same manner she ended the first as she claimed another break before maintaining her advantage with a hold.

Peng was put under real pressure when Sharapova battled back from 40-0 down to take a 3-0 lead.

The Russian did not let up as he dominated the 29-year-old all around the court to claim a 34-minute 6-0 victory in the second set to secure her place in the quarter-finals, where she will play Eugenie Bouchard.