Russian world No. 2 Maria Sharapova overcame a rigorous test from Sam Stosur at the quarterfinal stage of the $740,000 Stuttgart Grand Prix on Saturday, and will face third-ranked Czech Petra Kvitova in the semifinal.
In a three-hour match, Sharapova came back from losing the first set to score a tenth win over the Australian in their last eleven encounters, prevailing 6-7, 7-6, 7-5.
"I'm really happy to get through a quality clay courter like Sam," Sharapova was quoted as saying by the WTA website after the game. "She was serving as well against me today as she ever has. The ball was bouncing quite high but in the second set I got a better read of it."
"The difference was a couple points here and there."
Later in another Saturday quarterfinal Kvitova beat 14th-ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-4.
Kvitova and Sharapova will break their head-to-head series 2-2 on Sunday.
