Sharapova reaches Stuttgart quarters

STUTTGART, Germany: Women's world number two Maria Sharapova reached the quarter-finals of Stuttgart's WTA tournament on Wednesday.

Sharapova progressed to the last eight of the clay-court tournament after French qualifier Alize Cornet was forced to retire after the first game of the second set with a shoulder injury in the second-round tie.

In Friday's last eight tie, Australian Open finalist Sharapova will face either US Open winner Samantha Stosur or Stuttgart's defending champion Julia Goerges, who meet on Thursday.

Sixth-seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark is into the second round after opponent Jelena Jankovic was also forced to retire in their opening match.

Wozniacki took the first set 6-3, but Jankovic was forced to retire after 56 minutes with a back problem and the Dane will face Germay's Angelique Kerber on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Polish fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska is also in the last eight following her 6-3, 6-4 second-round victory over Hungary's Greta Arn and she will play either French Open winner Na Li of China or Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova in the last eight. (AFP)