Maria Sharapova downs Ana Ivanovic in Rome

Maria Sharapova is through to the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters after a straight-sets victory over Ana Ivanovic.

World number two Sharapova looked to be in trouble in the opening set when Ivanovic broke her serve twice to race into a 3-0 lead.

However, the Russian soon found her feet as she broke back twice to take it to a tie-break.

Ivanovic made the breakthrough in the tie-break, but Sharapova fought back with four mini-breaks on her way to a 7-4 win.

The hard-hitting Sharapova broke instantly in the second, only for world number 15 Ivanovic to snatch two breaks of her own and seize the initiative.

The three-time Grand Slam winner eventually came good again as three more breaks saw her close out the match 6-3.