Melbourne: Top player Maria Sharapova cruised into the second round of Australian open by defeating 41st ranked Mattek-Sands 6-3 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena here on Tuesday.
Sharapova returned to the grand slam with a bang after recovering from shoulder injury which cost her US open exit last year.
After taking an early break in the second set, 3rd seeded Sharapova wobbled to allow her opponent back into the game but the American double-faulted at 4-4 to concede the decisive break, allowing the Russian to serve out and seal the match with a booming serve.
Sharapova will play 44th-ranked Italian Karin Knapp in round 2.
