Sharapova survives scare to advance at Australian Open
MELBOURNE — No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova saved two match points in a narrow escape against No. 150-ranked Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open on Wednesday, advancing to the third round with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win.
Sharapova made 51 unforced errors as she went for the lines, saving some of her high-risk winners for when she needed them most in the 10th game of the third set when Panova, who had to come through qualifying and only previously had one win at a major tournament, was serving for the match.
Article continues after this advertisementSharapova says: “I was one point away twice today from going out of the tournament. She played a pretty inspired match.”
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