Maria Sharapova may not be keen on on-court coaching, but it is doing her the world of good in her quest for a second Toray Pan Pacific Open title.
The top seed, winner in 2005, called for her coach for the second match running after Ai Sugiyama sneaked the first set in their quarterfinal Friday and -- hey presto -- the Russian world No. 1 came back to steamroller her opponent 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Sharapova had a spluttering start against Francesca Schiavone in her first match, too, and things fell into place only after a tongue-lashing from Michael Joyce, who is allowed to chat with his charge as the rules for on-court coaching at the tournament allow.