Sharapova in semis

Maria Sharapova, who will play in two of the seven Newport Beach

Breakers home matches, has advanced to the semifinals of Wimbledon

Tuesday. The 17-year-old Russian posted a come-from behind victory

over No. 11 Ai Sugiyama, 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.

The Breakers open their season at home against the Springfield

Lasers Monday, followed by Tuesday’s home match against the St. Louis

Aces. The Breakers travel to Springfield July 8, but return home July

10 to face the Delaware Smash in a match that will feature Bob and

Mike Bryan in doubles action for Newport Beach. Monica Seles and the

New York Sportimes will visit on July 11.

The Breakers square off against Western Conference rivals

Sacramento Capitals on July 13 and 14 in an away-home series.

Sharapova will make her first appearance for the Breakers at the home

re-match on the 14th.

The team travels to St. Louis on July 16 and returns home July 17

to face the Kansas City Explorers with Sharapova making her second

appearance for the Breakers.

The Bryan brothers travel to Sacramento on July 19 and return home

to play against the Capitals once more on July 20.

The Breakers play at Kansas City July 21, at New York July 24 and

at the Hartford Foxforce July 25 to finish out the season.

The No. 13 seeded Sharapova will face former-Newport Beach

resident and 1999 Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport Thursday on

centre court. This is the first time Sharapova has reached the semis

in a Grand Slam event.