The Russian five-times Grand Slam champion struggled for rhythm initially on the low-bouncing grasscourt at the Mallorca Open but picked up the pace to beat Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6(8), 6-0.
The Russian freely admits that a desire to build on a successful start to her career is fuelled by the prospect of an ever-expanding bank account.
Tennis star Maria Sharapova said on Tuesday she is excited about her return to competition next month, feeling vindicated by the reduction of her doping suspension and empowered by her time away.
The defending women's champion was dumped out of the U.S. Open by fellow-Russian Ekaterina Bychkova.
Henin-Hardenne out-hit fellow-Belgian Kim Clijsters in the first semi-final, while Mauresmo beat Maria Sharapova.
World No 1 Serena Williams's 27-match unbeaten run ended with a 6-2, 6-3 defeat by Petra Kvitova in the Madrid Open.
Top seed Amelie Mauresmo, second seed Kim Clijsters and number three Justine Henin-Hardenne also won their quarter-finals.
List of US Open women's singles champions, since 1912.
The Indian will take on seventh seed Elena Dementieva in the first round at Wimbledon
Serena Williams, with 21 grand slam titles in her trophy cabinet, thinks she has nothing left to prove to anyone and just wants to have fun for the remainder of her career.
The Russian clinched her first Birmingham Classic title, beating surprise finalist Jamea Jackson in a close fought match.
Serena Williams crushed top seed Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-1 to reach the last eight.
Top seed Maria Sharapova dodged the showers on her way to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan to set up a third round encounter against Venus Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open on Saturday.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, on Friday.
Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova lost their respective fourth round matches at the French Open
Top seed Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis also revelled in improved conditions following the rain-soaked start to the French Open.
Vera Zvonareva sent world number one Maria Sharapova to a stunning 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 at the Pacific Life Open.
Martina Hingis cruised but top seed Maria Sharapova had to work a little harder to secure opening victories at the Pacific Life Open.
The world number two suffered a surprise defeat by the Russian in the last 16 of the Italian Open.
American Serena Williams was third time lucky as she finally equalled Steffi Graf's long-standing record of 22 Grand Slam wins after defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.
Maria Sharapova retired during her Pan Pacific Open semi-final against Ana Ivanovic due to a hamstring injury.
Former world number one Hingis, chasing a record fifth Pan Pacific crown, reached the last four by pulverising Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-0 6-1.
Maria Sharapova responded to a scolding from her coach to beat Italy's Francesca Schiavone 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
Maria Sharapova thinks she deserves to be number one despite the thrashing at Australian Open final.
List of Wimbledon women's singles champions since 1922.
The newly-crowned Australian Open champion will play at the Bangalore Open, from February 12-18.
The 19-year-old Sharapova said she was not surprised by the performance the unseeded Williams produced to win her eighth Grand Slam title.
Comeback queen Williams demonstrated that she still belonged among the elite as she annihilated Sharapova to win her eighth Grand Slam trophy.
The Swiss defending champion unleashed an unstoppable barrage of winners to shatter the American sixth seed and book a place in a record-equalling seventh consecutive Grand Slam final
They needed iron willpower to stagger through scrappy quarter-finals on Wednesday and set up a heavyweight meeting in the last four.
David Nalbandian saved three match points to sink Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 5-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Both made it to the fourth round of the women's singles at the Australian Open.
Kuznetsova won the battle of Russians to secure her first WTA trophy since triumphing in Bali in September 2004.
Lleyton Hewitt rallied to 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over American qualifier Michael Russell.
