MIAMI, March 30: Russia’s Maria Sharapova advanced to the semifinals of the WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament on Wednesday by defeating the fourth seed compatriot Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-3.

Sharapova, a finalist here last year, goes for a return to the championship match in a Thursday semifinal against France’s Tatiana Golovin, who defeated China’s Zheng Jie 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Sharapova fired 26 winners and was happy that she raised her level of play.

Unseeded Zheng’s remarkable run included the ouster of France’s Nathalie Dechy and 16th seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld. She took the first set off Golovin before her 24th-rated foe rallied to win in two hours and five minutes.

A blister on her left foot in the final set slowed Zheng, caused in part she said by problems with her shoes.

Zheng said China’s desire to perform well at the 2008 Olympics has been a factor in improved tennis results by Chinese players.

The other women’s semifinal will match world number one Amelie Mauresmo of France and 12th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Croatian sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic advanced to the men’s semi-finals with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Agustin Calleri.

The 27-year-old, seeking his third title of the year after triumphs at Chennai and Zagreb, will play for a spot in the final against another Argentine foe, third seed David Nalbandian, who defeated Croatian Mario Ancic 6-2, 6-2.

Ljubicic and Ancic helped Croatia capture the Davis Cup last year.

One quarterfinal on Friday matches Swiss world number one Roger Federer against American ninth seed James Blake in a rematch of the Indian Wells ATP Masters final earlier this month.

The other sends American fourth seed Andy Roddick and Spain’s David Ferrer.

Wednesday’s results: