Sharapova edges out Zvonareva

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) Top seed Maria Sharapova edged out Vera Zvonareva 7-5 6-4 to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the third time in her career today.

The 19-year-old Russian broke in a tough game 12 of the opening set to take the initiative and despite recovering from 5-2 down in the second, the 22nd seed could not fend off Sharapova, who won in an hour and 46 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Sharapova, a semi-finalist the last two years at Melbourne Park, plays her third fellow Russian of the tournament in the last eight when she faces 12th seed Anna Chakvetadze.

REUTERS SAM DS1659