Maria Sharapova Strolls Into Wimbledon Last 16

Maria Sharapova saw off a late comeback to reach the Wimbledon fourth round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu on Friday. (Wimbledon standstill for Tunisia Massacre Victims)

The fourth seed and 2004 champion won the key points in the first set and saw off some last-ditch resistance in the second to book her place in last 16. (On centre court, a Sublime Federer and a Faltering Nadal)

The Russian former world number one will face either Germany's 14th seed Andrea Petkovic or unseeded Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan for a spot in the quarter-finals. (Slumping Rafael Nadal set for first slam-less year since 2005)

"What everyone at this stage of the tournament expects is to go further and expect more, better things from yourself. As the matches get tougher, you have to raise your level," said five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova. (Federer happy to play showman at Wimbledon)

"That's why there's only one champion, that's why it makes it so special: it's the one that really raises their game.

"You have to have the belief and I absolutely do. You don't work all those hours to go on court and not believe in yourself.

"I want to be the winner and I do my best to do that."

Since 2006, Sharapova, 28, has only made it past the fourth round once, when she made the 2011 final, losing to Petra Kvitova.

Facing 24-year-old 29th seed Begu on the 11,000-seater Court One, Sharapova chose to serve but was immediately broken before breaking straight back. Begu then matched Sharapova but the Siberian won the crucial points at the end of the set.

In the second set, Sharapova broke twice for a 4-0 lead, the second time helped by an improvised scooped lob when she miscalculated and over-ran beyond the path of the ball.

Begu stopped the rot, breaking Sharapova when facing the exit at 5-1 down and prolonging the contest.

Sharapova even switched to play a left-handed forehand when stretching for a double-handed backhand that was beyond her.

"At 4-4 I played a really good game to go up 5-4. It was nice to have that tough game -- but break her," Sharapova said.

"Having the first set gives you a little bit of confidence. I felt good in the second and obviously she's not going to go away at the end and she played extremely well, so I was quite happy that I was able to finish off on good form."