TENNIS in DEPTH.

Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova’s bid for a third title on the grass at Edgbaston remains on course after she moved into the quarter-finals.

The Russian dispatched Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-3 in a little more than an hour to reach the last eight of the AEGON Classic in Birmingham.

Sharapova, who had earlier had to come back to break American Alexa Glatch’s serve in one game to complete a 6-3 6-4 victory which had begun on Wednesday afternoon, had little trouble in seeing off her Italian opponent.

“It’s never easy, but everyone has to deal with these situations,” Sharapova said of the rain-enforced delay. It’s tricky, but I’m glad I could make it.”

The 22-year-old, champion on these courts in 2004 and 2005, is starting to rediscover the form which saw her win Wimbledon five years ago.

A shoulder injury sidelined her for 10 months last year and she is only just starting to climb back up the world rankings (she is currently 73rd) having slipped out of the top 100.

Sharapova now faces Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, who saw off 14th seed Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-4 after earlier defeating Michaella Krajicek 6-2 6-4.

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Maria Sharapova will continue her journey on the comeback trail, playing a starring role at the AEGON Classic in Edgbaston.

A two-time AEGON Classic champion, Sharapova will compete in Edgbaston after nine months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

The Russian former world No.1 said she was delighted that her sixth visit to the AEGON Classic would mark her return to grass court competition for the year.

“I’m really excited about getting back on to the grass courts again and playing in the AEGON Classic,” said 22-year-old Sharapova.

“Birmingham is a really special tournament for me and I always get great support. I’ve won there twice before and I always feel very welcome – it’s excellent preparation for Wimbledon.”

Joining Sharapova in the main draw are two of the world’s top-ranked tennis players, Jie Zheng and Kaia Kanepi.

World No.15 Zheng made headlines when she reached the semi-finals of The Championships, Wimbledon last year, defeating No.1 seeded Ana Ivanovic en route.

The Beijing Olympic doubles bronze medallist will be hoping to add a fourth WTA Tour singles title to her name when she makes her second visit to the Edgbaston Priory Club.

The first Estonian to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal (at the 2008 French Open), Kanepi makes her debut in Birmingham this year. Currently enjoying a career-high ranking of No.18 in the world, the 23-year-old reached the semi-finals in Dubai and the quarterfinals in Rome earlier this year.

Some of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s most talented rising stars, including Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Urszula Radwanska, promise to add to the on-court excitement

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