Sharapova Still Unbeaten in 2008

DOHA, Qatar (Ticker) -- Maria Sharapova is playing the best tennis of her career. The fourth-seeded Russian overwhelmed Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, 6-0, 6-1, on Friday to reach the semifinals of the $2.5 million Qatar Open.

The 20-year-old Sharapova, who won the Australian Open last month without dropping a set, is 12-0 this season and is showing no signs of slowing down. Though Wozniacki pulled off an upset of No. 8 Marion Bartoli in the second round, the 17-year-old was clearly in over her head against the world's fifth-ranked player. No doubt recovered from nagging shoulder and leg injuries that hindered her in 2007, Sharapova was never broken during Friday's 60-minute match and won 22-of-27 (81 percent) first-serve points.

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova will attempt to continue on the path toward her 18th career title Saturday when she faces 16th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska. Poland's rising star advanced with a 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 victory over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova, who was coming of back-to-back upsets of ninth seed Patty Schnyder and No. 6 Venus Williams.

Sharapova doesn't appear to need any motivation these days, but she'll have some added incentive against the 18-year-old Radwanska, who defeated her in the third round of last season's U.S. Open. Radwanska has risen to a career-high ranking of 20th after her quarterfinal effort at the Aussie Open and a title at the Tier IV Pattaya City event earlier this month.

China's Na Li continued to impress on the other side of the draw, pulling off a 6-3, 6-4 upset of No. 3 Jelena Jankovic. The 25-year-old, who won her second career title last month at Gold Coast, also toppled No. 5 Anna Chakvetadze and 12th-seeded Shahar Peer en route to the semifinals. The tournament's other surprise, Vera Zvonareva is up next for Li after rallying for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, win over No. 15 Sybille Bammer. In search of her sixth title and first since July 2006, the 23-year-old Russian is 0-2 career against Li.

Photo: NC Sports/Bradley Cox