Madrid: Top seed Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova survived marathon three-setters to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals yesterday.


Maria Sharapova celebrates her victory over Caroline Garcia at the Caja Magica Sports Complex yesterday. Pic/AFP 

Williams saved three match points and needed two and three-quarter hours to take her undefeated record this season to 23-0, making the most of a late serving collapse from former No 1 Victoria Azarenka.