MADRID, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian Maria Sharapova beat Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-2, 7-5 for the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

Sharapova used her big serve to take the upper hand in the first set but the German girl put up resistance in the second.

Both players traded early breaks in the second set before Sharapova, the second seed of the event, finally converted on another break point when Lisicki returned her well-placed slice into the net. After that, Sharapova never looked back.

The Russian former No. 1 will next face either Daniela Hantuchova or Kaia Kanepi.

Elsewhere, Spain's Anabel Medina also reached the quarterfinals after Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan retired due to injury.