Sharapova makes winning start on grass

Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised into the second round of the WTA Birmingham grasscourt event here with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Canada's Stephanie Dubois.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised into the second round of the WTA Birmingham grasscourt event here with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Canada's Stephanie Dubois.

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The unseeded 22-year-old Russian, twice a winner at the Edgbaston Priory Club, will play the winner of the match between Americans Alexa Glatch and ninth seed Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam winner, reached the quarterfinals of the French Open last week after a 10-month absence due to a shoulder injury but lost to Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets.

It was Sharapova's first grasscourt match of the season but she raced into a 4-1 lead before surviving a break and closing out the set.

Britain's Naomi Cavaday also booked a place in the second round on the tournament's opening day, beating America's Julie Ditty 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).