Sharapova through to 4th round at Aus Open

Melbourne: Maria Sharapova beat Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-2 in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, showing no signs of rustiness despite a limited preparation for the season's first major.

The fourth-seeded Sharapova, who was nursing a left ankle injury prior to the Australian Open, has dropped only five games in her first three matches.

Sharapova, the 2008 Australian Open champion, will next play either former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova or Sabine Lisicki.

Five-time champion Serena Williams is a potential quarterfinal opponent while Petra Kvitova, who beat Sharapova for the Wimbledon title last year, looms in the semifinals.