Maria Sharapova moved a step closer to winning a second French Open crown on Friday as she inflicted a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing on hapless Paula Ormaechea of Argentina.
Maria Sharapova
Paris: Maria Sharapova swept into the last 16 of the French Open on Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Argentina's Paula Ormaechea.
Maria Sharapova
The seventh seed and tournament favourite since the ousting of the top three seeds will play 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur for a place in the quarter-finals.
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In what was a total mismatch on the Roland Garros centre-courts, the Russian, champion in Paris two years ago and losing finalist last year, needed just 51 minutes to see off an overpowered Ormaechea.
Sharapova won 54 points to 17 for her opponent with the South American taking just three points in the second set as her resistance to the onslaught crumbled.
Sharapova won back-to-back titles in Stuttgart and Madrid in the buildup to Roland Garros setting her up as one of the favourites.
But her inability to defeat Serena Williams in recent years was seen as a major obstacle until the American's shock second round loss.
Asked if she saw herself now as the favourite win the tournament, the Russian replied: "It's tough to talk about favourites, but there is no reason why I shouldn't be the favourite -- I have won four Grand Slams."
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