Sharapova brushes aside Kanepi to set up Kvitova clash

(CNN) -- Maria Sharapova remains on course to complete a career slam after she set up a French Open semifinal showdown with Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

The Russian dispatched Kaia Kanepi, from Estonia, 6-2 6-3 and now needs just two more victories to join an exclusive club in the game who have won all four grand slam titles.

The world No. 2 has reached the final four at Roland Garros twice before and beat Kvitova, from the Czech Republic, in the semifinals in Stuttgart -- a tournament she went on to win.

But Kvitova's only grand slam win to date came at last year's Wimbledon tournament, when she beat Sharapova in straight sets in the final.

"It's nice to be in this position again," Sharapova told the WTA Tour's official website. "It's my third time in the semifinals here.

Hantuchova expects Sharapova victory

Li Na was disappointed after suffering a surprise defeat in the fourth round of the French Open against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.

World No. 142 Shvedova will next face either Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova or Uzbekistan-born American Varvara Lepchenko after ending Li's title defense.

Maria Sharapova struggled with her serve against Klara Zakopalova, but reached the quarterfinals and can become the new world No. 1 by making it to the title match.

Zakopalova won their first encounter in 2003 when Sharapova was 15, but the Czech was unable to capitalize on the Russian's error-strewn performance in cold, windy conditions at Roland Garros.

Sharapova will next play Estonia's Kaia Kanepi (left) -- who followed up her win over former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki by beating unseeded Dutch player Arantxa Rus.

Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova reached the Paris quarterfinals for the first time, and the 2011 Wimbledon champion will next play Shvedova.

Defending champion departs

Shevdova celebrates

Sharapova's serve

Czech canceled

Kanepi keeps winning

Kvitova on course

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Li Na exits French Open

Maria Sharapova has come a long way since turning professional on her 14th birthday in April 2001, having played the game since she was four years old.

Sharapova's fame has brought endrosements that saw Forbes magazine rate her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over $18 million. She has her own clothing line and is also working on a candy line called Sugarpova.

The one thing separating Sharapova from a career grand slam is the French Open title. She has twice made the semifinals, most recently in 2011, when she was beaten by eventual winner Li Na of China.

Despite never having won at Roland Garros, Sharapova is in good form in 2012, losing just once on clay this season. Most recently, she successfully defended her Italian Open title to offer hope she can finally win the French Open and complete a career slam.

Sharapova was spotted at an early age by former great Martina Navratilova and after moving to the United States she was enrolled into the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida at the age of nine.

The Russian became the third youngest female to win Wimbledon in 2004 aged just 17. She beat Serena Williams in the final to spark huge interest the papers labelled "Maria Mania."

Sharapova's second major success came at the U.S. Open in 2006 when she beat Justine Henin at Flushing Meadows. By this stage she had already become the first Russian woman ever to hold the world No. 1 ranking.

The 25-year-old made it a hat-trick of grand slam victories at the 2008 Australian Open and in some style. She didn't drop a set in the entire tournament on her way to defeating Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in the final.

The Sharapova story

Sharapova style

Paris pain

At home in Rome

Early years

Wimbledon breakthrough

Flushed with success

A major hat-trick

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Maria Sharapova's French Open dream

"Petra's an extremely tough opponent, someone I have had good success in our last couple of meetings, but they're always tough matches.

"The last one in Stuttgart was a tough two-setter for me -- she had opportunities in that second set and when she's confident, she's dangerous. It's going to be another level. I hope I can raise my level, as well."

None of the four French Open semifinalists has tasted success in Paris, but Sharapova has the most major championships to her name, with three overall.

The Russian never looked in any trouble against Kanepi, breaking her opponent seven times en route to a swift victory, and the 26-year-old admitted she could not live with Sharapova's power.

"She attacked all the time, I didn't have any time to hit my shots and I just couldn't get any rhythm out there," Kanepi explained.

"I was also very nervous and I am just sorry I didn't get to spend more time on the court. Maria is playing really well, she can win the tournament."

Kvitova, the No. 4 seed, dropped the first set against qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan, who knocked out defending champion Li Na in the previous round, but battled back to win 3-6 6-2 6-4.

It ended Shvedova's hopes of becoming the first qualifier ever to reach the Roland Garros semis, and propelled Kvitova closer to her second grand slam final appearance.

"Every point that we played was really tough," Kvitova said in a courtside interview. "I knew that I had to change my game.

"It wasn't easy and I'm really happy that my serve helped me and I played my aggressive game again."

The other semifinal sees Australia's Samantha Stosur, the No. 6 seed, square off against Italian Sara Errani, the No. 21 seed.