Sharapova, Serena Williams Qualify to 3rd Round of Qatar Open

Doha, February 12 (QNA) - Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams easily reached the third round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday, Maria Sharapova dispatching French qualifier Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2. Serena Williams breezed to victory in her first match since the Australian Open, defeating Daria Gavrilova of Russia 6-2, 6-1. The third-ranked Sharapova, who won the tournament in her two previous appearances, broke Garcia twice go up 3-0 in the first set. Garcia won the next two games but Sharapova then broke for a third time. The second set went with serve through the first five games until Sharapova broke to go up 4-2, and she clinched the victory when the Frenchwoman hit a forehand long. Sharapova was joined in the third round by 11th-ranked Marion Bartoli, who downed former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. (QNA)