Sharapova advances in Miami

Maria Sharapova survived the loss of a set Thursday and Caroline Wozniacki also moved on in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open. Mona Barthel, meanwhile, celebrated the fact she did not have to again play the world's No. 1 player in an early-round match and pulled off an upset by eliminating No. 13 seed Jelena Jankovic. Sharapova, who lost in the championship match to top-ranked Victoria Azarenka in California last week, had a battle on her hands before defeating Shahar Peer 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Sloan Stephens will be the second-seeded Sharapova's next test after she surprised No. 30 Sara Errani 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Wozniacki, seeded fourth, cruised past Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4, 6-0. Barthel recorded a surprisingly easy 6-0, 6-3 decision over Jankovic to set up a third-round match with another unseeded player -- Ekaterina Makarova. Barthel has lost to Azarenka in one of the early rounds in three tournaments this year, but was placed in a different quarter of the draw this week. If they meet again in this tournament, it will be in the semifinals. Serena Williams, seeded 10th and playing here for the first time in three years, breezed to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Zhang Shuai. Kim Clijsters, who has been out of action since the Australian Open due to an ankle injury, reached the third round with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Julia Goerges. Azarenka will try for her 24th consecutive victory this year Friday when she takes on Michaella Krajicek.