Maria Sharapova into Quarterfinals at Madrid Open

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 07: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a backhand against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in their second round match during day three of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 7, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 07: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a backhand against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in their second round match during day three of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 7, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova is into the quarterfinals at the 2018 Madrid Open. She defeats Kristina Mladenovic to advance.

Maria Sharapova continues her comeback to the WTA Tour by reaching the quarterfinals at the 2018 Madrid Open. The Russian tennis star has bounced back after serving a suspension for her use of a banned substance. After splashing out early in her previous few tournaments, Sharapova is into the quarterfinals this week in Madrid.

The former world No. 1 defeats Kristina Mladenovic to advance, winning 6-3, 6-4.

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Sharapova is an outside contender at the Madrid Open this year. Her up and down comeback to the tour keeps her from being an odds on favorite, but she does have experience in her corner. She takes on Kiki Bertens next in Madrid. Bertens is fresh off of a win over recent Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki. The path to a title in Madrid is not easy for Sharapova. She should be happy with her performance so far, but the Russian tennis great will need to compete with a highly talented field of remaining players.

Maria Sharapova is yet to drop a single set at the Madrid Open.

Elsewhere at the 2018 Madrid Open, top seed Simona Halep remains alive. She takes on sixth seeded Karolina Pliskova next at the WTA Tour Premier Mandatory event. Halep can gain some critical ground over Wozniacki if she continues on. The Romanian tennis star is also the two-time defending champion in Madrid.

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Maria Sharapova is a former champion at the tournament too. In 2014, the Russian star defeated Halep to take the title. Time away from the courts makes Sharapova an underdog moving forward though. While she has the experience on her side, the former world No. 1 is still finding her rhythm on the WTA Tour. With the French Open right around the corner, Halep, Wozniacki, and others are the favorites for the Grand Slam. The quarterfinals and beyond in Madrid could however setup some others to contend at Roland Garros.