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Maria Sharapova battles into second round
Maria Sharapova advanced to the second round of French Open on Tuesday following a tough three-set battle with Evgenia Linetskaya.
World number two Maria Sharapova advanced to the second round of the French Open on Tuesday following a tough three-set battle with fellow Russian teenager Evgenia Linetskaya.
Wimbledon champion Sharapova, the second seed, came through 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4 after 2hr 25min on the Suzanne Lenglen court and next meets 244-ranked French wildcard Aravane Rezai.
Eighteen-year-old Linetskaya, making her debut in the Paris event, and competing in just her third Grand Slam after reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, pushed her compatriot hard.
But Sharapova, a quarter-finalist here last year, fought back from a set down and trailing 1-3 in the final set to take the tie on her first match point.
"This is the sort of match that you live for," said Sharapova.
"When you're a break down in the third, you're just begging for mercy, and then to pull it back.
"It definitely wasn't the best match I've played but when you don't play well and you get through that also means a lot."
But with 11 double faults Sharapova conceded that she would need to work on her serve if she wants to knock Lindsay Davenport off the world number one spot over the next two weeks.
"I've learnt to move on quickly. Tomorrow I'll be on the practice court working on my serve," she added.
