Sharapova through to WTA China Open quarters

World number two Maria Sharapova enjoyed her third consecutive straight-sets win in Beijing as she reached the last eight of the China Open in style. The Russian, second in the WTA rankings behind Victoria Azarenka, on Thursday defeated Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog, ranked 90th in the world, 6-0, 6-2 at the capital's National Tennis Stadium. Sharapova, 25, is yet to drop a set in the tournament, defeating Romania's Simona Halep in the first round 7-5, 7-5 and Sorana Cirstea, also of Romania, 6-2, 6-2 in the second. The number two seed will face her first real test in the quarter-finals when she takes on either fifth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany or former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.