Former Cincinnati Masters champion Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep won their respective matches, setting up a French Open rematch, as Serena Williams advanced to the Round of 16 at the Western and Southern Open on Thursday.

Sharapova defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two sets, 6-4, 7(7)-6(2).

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The 27-year-old Sharapova had trouble in the second set as Pavlyuchenkova broke her serve to go up 6-5 and serve for the match but the five-time Grand Slam champion broke her back to send the set into a tiebreak.

Sharapova fired five straight points later to edge Pavlyuchenkova.

Meanwhile, this is Halep's first tournament after a semifinals appearance at Wimbledon where she lost to Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard. She went up against Lucie Sarafova, who earlier defeated Canada Open runner-up Venus Williams in the first round.

The match was virtually one-sided as Halep broke Sarafova four times in their 90 minute encounter to finish the match 6-4, 7-5.

"She's had one of the best seasons in her career," Sharapova said of Halep rematch. "Obviously being No. 2 in the world is a really big achievement. It will be a tough match.

World No. 1 Williams had an easy third round match against 13th seed Flavia Pennetta 6-2 -6-2 and will face Jelena Jankovic next.

Williams was runner-up to defending champion Victoria Azarenka, who withdrew from the tournament due to a right knee injury.

Teenager Elina Svitolina continues her upset streak, defeating 15th seed Carla Suarez Navarro, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The 19-year-old Svitolina first upset Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the second round and now faces ninth seed Ana Ivanovic in the quarters.

Tagsserena williams, Elina Svitolina, Ana Ivanovic