It was Sania’s fourth win over a top-20 player in a week and her tenth win in her last 12 matches. “It was just a matter of time until I started playing well again,” Sania said after her match against Safina.
“It was a matter of getting through those close matches and winning them. I’ve been working on my fitness - my weakness. I’ve been improving on a daily basis.”
Top seed and holder Sharapova outplayed Tatiana Golovin of France 6-0 6-3 in her third-round match.
Sania and Sharapova have clashed only once earlier when the Russian demolished the Indian 6-2 6-1 in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2005 US Open Grand Slam. "I played Sania a long time ago. She is playing really good tennis and is a dangerous opponent," Sharapova said.
The unseeded Indian, who was playing Safina for the first time, outpaced her from the baseline and struck some powerful winners to take a 5-0 lead in the first set.
Safina, younger sister of the mercurial Marat Safin, threw her racquet in frustration after sending a forehand wide to drop serve for the third time in the set.
Safina managed to get a break in the sixth game when Sania double faulted on break point but that ended up being the only game the Russian won in the opening set.
Safina tried to claw her way back into the match in the second set but the momentum was with Sania, who wrapped up the match in an hour and four minutes.
However, it turned out be a disappointing day for Sania in doubles as the Indian and her Israeli partner Shahar Peer crashed out in the second round.The Indo-Israeli pair lost to Su-Wei Hseih (Taipei) and Alla Kudryavtseva (Russia) 6-3 3-6 10-12.
Kirilenko stuns Jankovic
Meanwhile, Russia's Maria Kirilenko stunned second seed Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the third round, adds Reuters from San Diego.
In another match, ninth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia turned the tables on fifth seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-4, 7-5. Third seed Anna Chakvetadze overcame Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4, and number four Nadia Petrova took down Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-3, 7-6. Swiss Patty Schnyder upended compatriot Martina Hingis 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 and will face Petrova in the final eight.
Wimbledon champion Venus Williams beat sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-0, 6-3.
Roddick through
US top seed Andy Roddick fired 23 aces to outlast Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 and reached the ATP Washington Classic quarterfinals along with fellow seeds Tommy Haas and Marat Safin.
German second seed Haas continued his comeback, defeating American Michael Russell 6-3, 6-4. Next for Haas is 22-year-old US novice John Isner, who defeated countryman Wayne Odesnik 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2).
Russian third seed Safin ousted 104th-ranked Dutchman Robin Haase 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5. Safin faces Frenchman Gael Monfils. Confident Monfils, ranked 54th, beat Germany’s Michael Berrer 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3.
Paes-Damm win
Leander Paes and his Czech partner Martin Damm edged unseeded pair of Chris Haggard of South Africa and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-7, 6-3, 10-8 to advance into the semifinals of thedoubles event.