Australia Open: Maria Sharapova advances to second round

Third seed Maria Sharapova clawed her way into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday with a straight-sets win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands as she seeks her first Grand Slam title since the 2012 French Open.

The glamorous Russian, on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury that forced her off the tour in August, battled past the tough American 6-3, 6-4 but her game was marred by too many errors and a serve that failed to fire.

“After (missing) my last Grand Slam in New York I have been so looking forward to this one and I was really happy to start,” she said.

“She was a tough opponent and I’m just happy to get through the first one.

“I have had trouble against her in the past and I knew it would be no different tonight.”

The four-time Grand Slam winner, in a powder blue dress, only made her return at the Brisbane International this month where she lost to bitter rival and eventual champion Serena Williams in the semi-finals.

Sharapova, who was using an ice vest even at 11:00 pm after a scorching hot day, won’t be relishing a possible final meeting with Williams, who has a 15-2 record in their career meetings.

Now working with coach Sven Groeneveld after a failed, one-tournament partnership with Jimmy Connors, Sharapova comfortably held her serve then scored an early break when Mattek-Sands pushed a forehand long.

She was playing aggressive tennis and forcing errors from the American, which cost her dearly with the third seed racing to a 4-0 lead.

But the colourful Mattek-Sands, sporting purple dyed hair and her trademark knee socks, forced her way back into the game when Sharapova drove a forehand long to give her a glimmer of hope….

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