Williams crushes Sharapova to reach last eight

MIAMI, Mar 27 (Reuters) Serena Williams crushed top seed Maria Sharapova in a rematch of the Australian Open final, pounding the Russian 6-1 6-1 today to reach the last eight of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Williams, playing her first event since beating Sharapova in January to lift her eighth grand slam title, brushed past the world number two in 58 minutes.

The target of racial abuse by a heckler yesterday, the American heard only cheers as she finished off her opponent with a forehand winner.

Williams's victory also avenged her sister Venus's defeat by Sharapova in the third round.

The 13th seed, three times a winner of this trophy, next meets eighth-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova.

REUTERS PDS BST0051