Intro:

Maria Sharapova (RUS) followed up back-to-back titles in Stuttgart and Madrid by beating Mónica Puig (PUR) in the second round of the Rome Open, Italy, on Wednesday. The 27-year-old is unbeaten in her 12 matches on clay this year and takes on fellow former world number one Ana Ivanovic (SER) in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Script:

The Queen of Clay Maria Sharapova took on Puerto Rican Mónica Puig in the second round of the Rome Open on Wednesday.

Puig is 53 places worse off in the world rankings but she asserted her authority early on by winning the opening game.

But Sharapova reminded everyone why she's won 31 career titles by easing to victory in the first set in the Italian capital.

Qualifier Puig rallied in the second set and stormed into a 4-2 lead although she had no reply to the Russian's forehand winner.

The match had swung in Sharapova's favour and another error by Puig sealed a 6-3, 7-5 win; the 27-year-old's 12th win from 12 matches on clay this year.

Sharapova enjoys singing and she'll be hoping to have plenty of cause for celebration after her quarter-final clash with fellow former world number one Ana Ivanovic on Thursday.