2008 Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova had no trouble in her debut at this year’s event with a routine 6-1, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Nao Hibino.
The Russian had one slight wobble when serving for the match at 5-2, with a string of unforced errors that gave her opponent a glimmer of hope, but it was merely a blot on a tremendously convincing performance.
“I was pleased with the way I was able to play. I knew I would have my hands full with her”, said Sharapova after the match. It was a day of upsets and the first round at the first Grand Slam is never an easy ordeal but Sharapova’s depth of shots and consistency proved that the nerves don’t get to her.
With a torrid 2015 season behind her, the Russian proved that she’s ready to turn a page and move onto what she hopes are reminiscent times from when she dominated the game.
Sharapova’s section of the draw has seen potential third round opponent, and number 26 seed, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fall at the first hurdle against Lauren Davis but before that the Russian must take on Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who defeated Evgeniya Rodina.
