Sharapova, Oudin cruise into Memphis quarters

Top-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova and second-seeded rising American Melanie Oudin were easy second-round winners Wednesday at the $220,000 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & the Cellular South Cup tennis event.

Former world No. 1 and three-time major champion Sharapova drilled American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 6-1 in just under one hour on the indoor hardcourts at The Racquet Club of Memphis.

Sharapova's next test will come from eighth-seeded Brit Elena Baltacha, who handled Canadian Valerie Tetreault 6-4, 6-4.

The 18-year-old 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Oudin charged past fellow American Lilia Osterloh 6-2, 6-1.

Oudin's quarterfinal opponent on Thursday will be former Memphis champ Sofia Arvidsson.

In other second-round action involving seeds, No. 3 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia overcame Czech wild card Nicole Vaidisova 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, No. 5 Czech Petra Kvitova handled Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek 6-4, 7-5, and the Swedish qualifier Arvidsson doused No. 7 American Vania King 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Arvidsson captured this event in 2006. Kanepi and Kvitova will face-off in the quarters.

Also on Day 4, Brit Anne Keothavong crushed Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-3, 6-1 and Croat Karolina Sprem came back to beat wild card compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. Keothavong and Sprem will tangle on Thursday.

The 2010 Memphis champion will take home $37,000.

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