Maria Sharapova was happy to be back at the Australian Open Tuesday afternoon. The 2008 champion did work to hold off Tatiana Maria 6-1, 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena on the grounds of Melbourne Park. Sharapova had a lot more firepower on the forehand that beat down the 30-year-old German star to move into the second round
In her return to the slam down under, the Russian superstar and former champion from a decade ago hoped to get deep into the tournament with the chance for glory possible for everyone. The world number 48 went against the world number 47 in their first meeting that had the German left with a massive challenge having played in only two matches so far. Sharapova’s semifinal loss at Shenzhen only pushed her to do better and beyond at Melbourne Park.
Sharapova began the first set breaking Maria in the second game after holding serve against the German. The third was a surprising break by Maria who responded well gaining the break against the Russian to get into the running. Sharapova attacked in the fourth to break Maria keeping the gap that she built up to hold some control. She increased things to four games as the German double faulted for a second time in her quest to fight but didn’t have the power to contend with the superstar. She forced deuce in the seventh game but the pressure was too much while Sharapova dealt with things smoothly. She capped the AD point to put the set to bed in 32 minutes with a 6-1 hold.
Maria started the second set with a strong serve to love of Sharapova showing her actual strengths that she hoped would continue on. After Sharapova held, the 30-year-old brought together another solid show of force with her serve to continue leading. The pace slowed down significantly as Maria was becoming a tougher opponent for the former number one. She made another statement winning a triple break on Sharapova’s long ball at the end of a rally that widened the gap for the German star.
Sharapova made her attempt in the fifth to get back in the set hunting the break down to earn it on an unforced error from Maria. The Russian consolidated with a hold to level and go after the lead once more. Maria made it difficult in the seventh as her response in the rallies was enough to make Sharapova struggle. The Russian handled the aggressive push and still managed to get another break that put her out front. Getting a hold against Maria remained difficult but she added a fourth straight that had her closing in on the second round.
Maria wasn’t going down without a fight and proved it with a love service on Sharapova to sit a game down with the chance to still even things up and move deeper into the set. Sharapova served for the match trailing Maria on the scoreboard. Pressure built up where the German struggled to deal with the opposition and fell with a final ace from the Russian to complete 1 hour and 18 minutes of play on court. Her first serve carried the way to victory landing 22 of 29 even though her overall serve struggled with the second serve underperforming.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been back here so with every point I wanted to enjoy the moment and its meaningful for me to be out here today for me,” she said to Ian Cullen during her on court interview. “I’m happy to get it done in two sets today.”
She’ll await the winner between Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova and American Varvara Lepchenko on Thursday. “I only face tougher opponents as I go forward and it’s a challenge but that’s why this is called a grand slam and so meaningful when you’re the last one holding the trophy.”
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