30 July,2011 01:59 AM IST | | AFP
Serena Williams set up a marquee quarter-final clash with Maria Sharapova yesterday at the $721,000 WTA Stanford hardcourt tournament.
USA's Serena Williams celebrates after beating Russia's Maria Kirilenko
6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in yesterday's WTA Stanford hardcourt tournament
The 13-time Grand Slam champion, battling to regain her elite ranking status after a lengthy layoff for injury and illness, defeated Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Sharapova during the French Open. Pics/AFP, Getty Images
"I'm sure we'll both go out and do the best each of us can," Williams said of her looming clash with Sharapova, another former World No 1. "It's nothing personal. It's my job and I want to get paid. I leave it on the court."
After winning Wimbledon in 2010, Williams cut her foot and required surgery. She then dealt with blood clots in her lungs and ultimately was on the sidelines until her return at Eastbourne in June.
Stanford is her third tournament since last year's Wimbledon, and her first tournament on US soil since the 2009 US Open. Williams took a medical timeout in her match to have her left ankle re-taped because of a blister.
But after Kirilenko won the second set and took the first game of the third, Williams seemed to wake up. ufffd
