Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return during her women's singles tennis match against Angelique Kerber of Germany at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London July 1, 2014.
Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return during her women's singles tennis match against Angelique Kerber of Germany at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London July 1, 2014. REUTERS

Maria Sharapova is through to the third round of the 2014 China Open. Sharapova beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, on Sept. 30.

Fourth seed Sharapova saved seven of nine break points that she encountered in the match against Svitolina. The match lasted for one hour and 25 minutes. It was the first time that the two had met on the court.

Sharapova, who is yet to win a Beijing title, thought Svitolina played really good. "She's sort of an up-and-comer," Sharapova said of Svitolina via Fox Sports. Sharapova was aware that Svitolina has faced some of the world's top players. Svitolina was a semifinalist at the inaugural 2014 Wuhan Open, beating the likes of Camila Giorgi, Garbine Muruguza, and top-10 player Angelique Kerber. "Maybe the scoreline was a bit easier than the match showed."

According to Tennis World USA, Sharapova ended the match with 22 winners and 31 unforced errors compared to Svitolina's eight winners and 21 unforced errors. Svitolina reportedly had more first serves, which was equivalent to 65 percent, but Sharapova had a higher percentage on the points won on both the first and second serves, equivalent to 68 percent and 42 percent, respectively, as opposed to Svitolina's 48 percent and 33 percent, also in the same order. Sharapova will face either Flavia Pennetta of Italy and Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round.

Sharapova has skipped to play in the China Open in 2013 due to her shoulder injury. She last competed in Beijing in 2012. The fourth-ranked Russian athlete easily won in the early rounds by beating Simona Halep, Sorana Cirstea, and Polona Hercog. Sharapova faced Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals and Li Na in the semifinals. In the finale, Sharapova met Victoria Azarenka, but the Russian athlete was deprived of her first Beijing trophy when she was defeated by the Belarusian athlete in two straight sets.

Sharapova is currently ranked fourth in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) world rankings. She has qualified to play in the WTA Championships in Singapore that will take place from Oct. 17 to Oct. 26 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.