Maria Sharapova has insisted that she is focused on her last-eight match against fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova and not who she might meet in the latter stages of the Australian Open.

The second seed is likely to face either Victoria Azarenka or Serena Williams if she reaches the final at Melbourne Park.

However, Sharapova, who booked her place in the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Kirsten Flipkens on Sunday, believes that she would be foolish to underestimate Makarova.

"I was making a few more mistakes than I would have liked in the beginning," said Sharapova, after beating Flipkens 6-1 6-0. "After I held at 2-1, I really started making her play a little bit more.

"I started really getting under the ball and being aggressive and just had a little bit more energy which really helped me and I carried that throughout the match.

"It's not about waiting to see where you are in the semis or finals, it's about who's ahead of you and my next match is against Makarova. I have to do the right things to beat her."

Sharapova has beaten Makarova in each of their previous four meetings, dropping just one set in the process.