Now 28, Sharapova has been the only Russian woman to win a grand slam singles since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009.
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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.
“I was up a break, up 30-0 and just let up”, Sharapova said after the match. That was long enough ago that she wasn’t exactly sure who she beat, only that “I got smoked by Monica Seles after that”.
The No. 328th-ranked Rubin received a wild card into the main draw as part of a reciprocal agreement between the US and Australian tennis associations.
Serena Williams has had so much success for such a long time that even in a second-round match she can set a record at the season’s first Grand Slam event.
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka was the most impressive of the women’s winners when she hammered Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round for the loss of just three games in total. Unfazed by the slight shift in momentum, Sharapova answered with a hold of her own and continued to roll on serve en route to opening up a sizeable 4-1 lead. I’d say it was pretty mediocre today.
“Wow. I’ve won 600 matches?” I did when I was younger, and I was bad at it. I know what I’m good at, and I know things I’m not going to excel at. It’ll be back to the drawing board for the 21-year-old who made her a Grand Slam debut against Sharapova, while the world number five will look to pose similar numbers for the rest of the tournament. Play began as scheduled on those courts, including the opening match on Rod Laver between fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Djokovic said the speculation was getting out of control. I don’t know if you’re trying to create a story about that match or for that matter any of the matches of the top players losing in the early rounds. Kyrgios 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; Tsonga d.
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.
Delbonis 6-3, 6-2, 6-1; Gasparyan d. She won her first ITF match in 2002 and her first WTA match a couple of weeks later.
On Monday afternoon in temperatures of 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) Djokovic became annoyed with himself and his play at times, including three double-faults.
He went on to clinch the second set in the next game and later wrapped up the match in 1 hour, 55 minutes. The American lost in straight sets to Lukas Rosol in the second round 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-3.
“It was just nice to get on court and face the opportunity of playing a first match”. The steely-eyed Russian was in no mood to give an inch and she served for the set in just 26 minutes.
Friedsam had not advanced past the second round of six previous Grand Slams.
Australian Open 2016 from 18 January – 31 January 2016.
Stephens reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in 2013.
Defending champion Serena Williams made light work of her third-round match against Daria Kasatkina at the Australian Open by sealing a 6-1 6-1 triumph in under an hour in Melbourne.
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Davis is an aggressive player who will cause Sharapova significant problems if the Russian once again struggles with her serving.
