Sharapova through to the fourth round of Indian Wells

Tennis star Maria Sharapova led the way as three Russians qualified into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Monday.

Sharapova, who won the tournament in 2006, beat Romanian player Simona Halep 6-3, 6-4 to set up a fourth-round clash with Italy’s Roberta Vinci.

«I thought I played extremely well the first four or five games of [the second] set. Almost too good, in a way, where I felt like I was going for a lot and making a lot of shots,» Sharapova said, cited on the tournaments website.

Sharapova’s compatriot, Nadia Petrova cruised past Sam Stosur, beating the Australian 6-1, 6-7, 7-6. She will now face fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, who defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.