The trouble-free performance was a boost for Sharapova whose latter half of 2015 was wrecked by injuries. PHOTO: AFP
The fifth-seeded Russian, attempting to win her first title at Melbourne Park since 2008, was in blistering form to take the match 6-1, 6-3 in 73 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
There were concerns ahead of the clash about her lack of match fitness, after Sharapova pulled out of the Brisbane International with a forearm injury.
She next plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus with a potential last-eight clash against her nemesis Serena Williams, who beat her in the final last year and has won every match they have played since 2004.
Match-fixing claims rock Australian Open
Quickfire Federer blows away Basilashvili
Grand Slam record-holder Roger Federer gave himself a confidence boost in taking just 72 minutes to win his opening match at the Australian Open, breezing past Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets on Monday.
The Swiss third seed wasted little time in disposing of the Georgian 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in a night match on Rod Laver Arena to set up a second round meeting with practice partner Aleksandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine.
“That was a good match. I’m really pleased how I was able to play,” said Federer.
An illness hampered Federer at the lead-up Brisbane International tournament where he lost in the final to Canada’s Milos Raonic.
Australian Open: Last hurrah ‘a tad strange’ for Australia’s Hewitt
Djokovic, Serena star on opening day
Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams raced into the Australian Open second round Monday as the year’s first Grand Slam was rocked by claims of widespread match-fixing in tennis.
Djokovic’s main opponent was the heat as, cooling himself with ice vests on the change-overs, the top seed dispatched Korean rising star Chung Hyeon 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Serena also made a positive return to competitive tennis, four months after a heartbreaking defeat in the US Open semi-finals ended her bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.
Australian Open draws: Potential Djokovic-Federer showdown in semis
Showing no discomfort from the swollen knee which forced her out of this month’s Hopman Cup mixed-team tournament, Williams toughed it out 6-4, 7-5 against Italy’s Camila Giorgi.
Meanwhile, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki crashed out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle after tossing away a one-set lead against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2016.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ