Maria Sharapova wins 1st-round match at Australian Open

Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Petra Martic of Croatia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.  AP PHOTO/Bernat Armangue

MELBOURNE, Australia — Second-seeded Maria Sharapova concluded an opening day of matches on Rod Laver Arena with a 6-4, 6-1 win Monday over Czech player Petra Martic at the Australian Open.

Sharapova, who began the season by winning the Brisbane International title, broke Martic’s service in the last game of the opening set and then dominated the second. She’ll play fellow Russian Alexandra Panova, a qualifier, in the second round.

Last year, Sharapova reached the fourth round at three Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open — along with winning her fifth career major at the French Open.

A successful title run at Melbourne Park could see Sharapova supplant Serena Williams at No. 1.