WTA wrap: Sharapova advances in Tianjin

Maria Sharapova is one step closer to winning her first WTA title since May 2015.

The former world No.1 proved too strong for Poland’s Magda Linette, scoring a 7-5 6-3 second round win in the Tianjin Open.

“I feel like I made a few too many errors on my return game which ultimately led to a difficult first set but once I broke her early in that second set, I played a really good aggressive game and I felt like I had the momentum in the second,” Sharapova told wtatennis.com.

SOCIAL ROUND-UP: Fired up Sharapova 

Sharapova now faces Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele in the quarterfinals. World No.25 Shuai Peng, the defending champion, looms as a potential semifinal opponent.

Former world No.5 Sara Errani, in her return from a drug suspension, also moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. She faces American Christina McHale next.

Wozniacki, Svitolina out of Hong Kong

Injuries have rocked the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, with top seed Elina Svitolina and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki both withdrawing before their second round matches.

World No.3 Svitolina withdrew with a right leg injury, while a left elbow injury forced Wozniacki out.

"I want to thank this amazing crowd for the support…it's very disappointing" –@CaroWozniacki forced to pull out of @HKTennisOpen pic.twitter.com/71vPJrMDzp

— WTA (@WTA) October 12, 2017

No.6 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is the highest-ranked player left in the draw. The world No.21 plays rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka in today’s quarterfinals.

Rybarikova, Strycova advance in Linz

Top seed Magdalena Rybarikova moved into the Linz quarterfinals with a 7-6(4) 6-3 win over German Carina Witthoeft.

Second seed Barbora Strycova also advanced, but did it the hard way. The world No.26 recovered after dropping the first set to Croatian qualifier Jana Fett, prevailing 2-6 6-3 6-3.

Sixth seed Sorana Cirstea is also into the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 7-6(14) 6-4 win over Russian Natalia Vikhylantseva.

Sorana after her 7:6(16:14),6:4 win vs Natalia:"I am sure that was the longest TB of my life.At some point I didn't know the score anymore." pic.twitter.com/8JPJZJf0Pe

— WTA Linz (@WTALinz) October 12, 2017

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