Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Maria Sharapova was an easy third-
round victor Friday at Wimbledon.
The world No. 1 Sharapova handled Taiwan's Su-Wei Hsieh 6-1, 6-4 on Court 1 at
the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
The career Grand Slam star Sharapova is fresh off her French Open title three
weeks ago; captured her lone Wimbledon championship in 2004; and was last
year's Wimbledon runner-up to powerful Czech Petra Kvitova.
Sharapova will meet 15th-seeded big-serving German Sabine Lisicki in the
fourth round on Monday. Lisicki topped rising American Sloane Stephens 7-6
(7-5), 1-6, 6-2. A disappointed Stephens blew a 5-2 lead in the first-set
tiebreak on Day 5 of the fortnight.
The capable oft-injured Lisicki was a Wimbledon semifinalist last year and
quarterfinalist in 2009. She missed the 2010 edition of tennis' most
prestigious event due to injury.
Rain delayed the start of action in this London suburb on Friday.
The Sports Network