Maria Sharapova of Russia. - file

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida (AP)

Maria Sharapova prevailed over Venus Williams in an error-filled match, winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 yesterday in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

The first match between the two in 20 months included 25 double faults, one on a second serve that landed wide of the doubles alley. There were 91 unforced errors and 13 service breaks, resulting in two and a half hours of fitful tennis before a stadium crowd that groaned at the mishits and missed chances.

The two Grand Slam champions played for the first time since the 2005 Wimbledon semifinals, and appropriately, the final shot - Williams' forehand - sailed three metres long.

Sharapova overcame 13 double faults to exact a measure of revenge from the Williams family. She was drubbed by Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in January.

"I'm a fighter and a big competitor," Sharapova said. "That's why I play the sport. I enjoy the battle of it, and a lot of my matches, it depends on who fights more in the end."

The Russian's victory prevents a potential fourth-round showdown between the Williams sisters. It would have been their first meeting since the 2005 U.S. Open.

Get frustrated

Both players blamed the sloppy play on the gusty wind common on Key Biscayne.

"You know you're not going to play your best tennis," Sharapova said. "You're always going to have to adjust. You definitely can't get frustrated."

Sharapova hit the wildest serve - landing it closer to a changeover chair than the court - but Venus Williams missed more than half her first serves and committed 55 unforced errors. Slowed in recent months by injuries, Williams was unseeded and playing in only her third tournament since July.

"I just struggled with my consistency a little bit," she said. "The rhythm - there were a lot of points where I wasn't quite there."

Third-seeded Andy Roddick, who has yet to lose his serve in two matches, beat No. 32 Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-4. Roddick's fourth-round opponent will be No. 13, David Ferrer, who won when they met in the quarter-finals a year ago.

No. 2 Rafael Nadal advanced when Olivier Rochus pulled out before their match with a foot injury.

In other women's play, top-ranked Justine Henin rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to reach today's fourth round. Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 4-seeded Kim Clijsters also advanced, but No. 5 Martina Hingis lost.

Sharapova, runner-up at Key Biscayne each of the past two years, is seeking her first title in the event and her first championship this year. She was two points from defeat serving at 4-5 but held, then broke for a 6-5 lead when Williams failed to convert four game points on her serve, committing an error each time.

Sharapova hit one last double fault on the first point of the final game but steadied herself and served out the win, helped by four more errors by Williams.