Tennis | Sharapova, Halep advance to semifinals at Shenzhen Open

Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball during a quarter final match against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan at the WTA Shenzhen Open tennis tournament

Maria Sharapova continued her preparations for an Australian Open return by beating Zarina Diyas 6-3, 6-3 yesterday to advance to the Shenzhen Open semifinals along with top-seeded Simona Halep.

The five-time major winner dictated play against Diyas, hitting 24 winners and five aces to clinch victory in just under 90 minutes.

“I didn’t play my best tennis, and there’s certainly a lot of things to improve on,” Sharapova said. “The great thing is that I’m through and have another chance to play tomorrow.”

She will play either defending champion and No.6-seeded Katerina Siniakova or Kristyna Pliskova for a place in the final.

Sharapova missed the last Australian Open during a doping ban that dated back to a failed test for meldonium at Melbourne Park in 2016, and is keen to make a return to the season’s opening major which starts Jan. 15.

Top-ranked Halep also eased into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Aryna Sabalenka.

Halep’s 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over local favorite Duan Yingying on Wednesday ensured she will retain the No. 1 ranking for the Australian Open.

Irina-Camelia Begu advanced to the Shenzhen semifinals earlier yesterday with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Timea Babos. AP