By Chris Oddo | Sunday, January 25, 2015

Maria Sharapova reached her sixth career Australian Open quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over China’s Peng Shuai on Sunday, setting up a heavily anticipated quarterfinal battle with Eugenie Bouchard.

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Though the scoreline looks lopsided, Sharapova was made to work in the first set. The pair were on serve until Sharapova netted her first break of the day in the sixth game when Peng sunk a backhand into the net.

But the resilient Chinese no. 1, who will reach the top 20 next week thanks to her third straight round of 16 appearance at a major, would break back in the next game thanks to an ill-timed Sharapova double-fault.

“I knew I had to start off the match really well,” Sharapova said. “I think I did -- I played solid. I don't think I did anything spectacular, but felt that I was consistent. I served smart at times. I returned quite well. I think that really helped me. I think I won the right points at the right time and ultimately won the match.”

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Sharapova would recover her break in the next game and close out the set on serve.

Though she had to battle to break in a 12-minute opening game of the second set, the Russian ultimately took control when Peng sent up an ill-timed double-fault of her own on break point.

The three-time Australian Open finalist and 2008 champion would finish by winning the final eight games, and ten of the last eleven, to book her spot alongside the rising Bouchard in the last eight.

“She's been playing really well in this tournament and also in the slams the last year,” Sharapova said of Bouchard. “Really confident tennis and inspired form. I expect her to come out and play a really good match. I think we only played each other one time last year, which was at the French. That was a really tough match for me. I had to come back from being down one set to Love. Yeah, I'm sure she'll come out and play extremely well.”

Sharapova owns a 3-0 career advantage against Bouchard, but their last battle went three sets at Roland Garros.

The Russian still has a shot to finish the tournament as the WTA’s No. 1 ranking but can only do so if she advances to at least the final and Serena Williams does not.