Sharapova eases into the semifinals

Maria Sharapova looked like a champion under the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon, advancing to the semifinals at the All England Club four the fourth time with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Dominika Cibulkova on Tuesday.

Sharapova, the only Wimbledon champion remaining in the women's draw after the Williams sisters were eliminated a day earlier, won eight straight games to win the first set and take control of the second.

The fifth-seeded Russian has not lost a set at this year's tournament, and she was nowhere near losing one Tuesday.

Earlier, Sabine Lisicki reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by beating 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1 on another wet day at Wimbledon.