ANDREA PETKOVIC tipped Maria Sharapova to win the French Open after the Russian produced a brilliant display to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the second time.

Sharapova once described her movement on clay as like a cow on ice but she was completely assured yesterday, winning the first eight games on her way to a 6-0 6-3 victory over rising star Petkovic.

It is the first time the seventh seed has been in the semi-finals of a grand slam since she won the Australian Open in 2008, and Petkovic feels she can go all the way.

The German said: “Maria has great experience and I think she has a great opportunity to win the grand slam. Mentally she’s very stable and she’s very solid. It makes a lot of difference having the experience of winning a slam.”

Victory at Roland Garros would give Sharapova a complete set of grand slam titles but she insists she is not thinking that far ahead, saying: “I’m in the semi-finals and my goal is just to take it a step further right now.

“It’s really exciting to be back in the semis. I put a lot of work in to be at this stage of the grand slams. I’m really happy that it’s here.”

Sharapova was last in the semi-finals at the French Open in 2007 before being struck down by the shoulder problems that threatened to finish her as a force in women’s tennis.

The Russian appreciates her success more now, though, adding: “I have a really good team of people around me that support me and that have helped me in the tough moments and the tough decisions that I’ve had to make in my career. It’s a long process and I don’t think the great moments or the great feelings feel as good as when everything comes easy to you.”