Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after winning over Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. AP
MELBOURNE — Third seed Maria Sharapova clawed 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 American 6-3, 6-4 but her game was marred by errors and a serve that failed to fire.
MOST READ
LATEST STORIES