Tianjin: Maria Sharapova surged into the Tianjin Open quarterfinals on Thursday as she pursues her first tournament victory since return from a doping ban.


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The Russian former world number one defeated Magda Linette of Poland 7-5, 6-3 and will next play either Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele or fifth seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.


The 30-year-old Sharapova has been on the comeback trail since April after serving a 15-month suspension for taking the banned substance meldonium.


Sharapova, a five-time major-winner, is now ranked a lowly 86 in the world and she needed a wildcard to enter the Tianjin tournament.


She saw off 71st-ranked Linette in just over 98 minutes to reach only her second quarterfinal since her return to action.