DOHA - Wimbledon tennis champion Maria Sharapova set up a semi-final showdown against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in the US$600,000 ($840,218) Qatar Open today.
The other semifinal will be between world No 2 Amelie Mauresmo of France and No 9 Alicia Molik of Australia, a repeat of a clash in Belgiumlast Saturday when Mauresmo won.
Sharapova posted an easy 6-3 6-2 win over Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli after Hantuchova had defeated ex-Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4 6-1 in a rain-affected match.
Seeded second, Sharapova took some time to find her rhythm, but once she did, there was no stopping her. She won the first set 6-3, breaking Bartoli three times, and with another three breaks quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second.
Play was stopped for nearly three hours in Hantuchova's match when she led 5-4 in the first set against Martinez.
It was a clash between the two resurgent players, both returning to form after a couple of disappointing seasons.
Hantuchova was more confident, though Martinez, 32, had an extra spring in her heels after her stunning win over defending champion Anastasia Myskina of Russia today.
The Slovak said: "I stayed calm during the break and I was able to stay focused when play resumed."
Top seed Mauresmo stayed on course for a third final appearance in as many weeks with a 6-2 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Maria Kirilenko.
Mauresmo, champion in Antwerp last week and runner-up in Paris the week before, kept her winning streak alive with a flawless display against Kirilenko.
Fourth seeded Molik survived a mid-match crisis before quelling Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-2 3-6 7-6.
Molik is another player in form. She won the Sydney title and then reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.
Last week she made the semifinals at Antwerp but lost 6-3 7-6 to Mauresmo.
