Sharapova battles way to win

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:31

Sharapova, who has plummeted down the world rankings to 102 after missing close to a year with a shoulder injury, was behind 4-2 in the third set but recovered to claim a 6-2 1-6 8-6 victory against the 11th seed.

Sharapova, who needed three sets to beat Anastasiya Yakimova in the first round, is playing in her first Major since Wimbledon last year and her low ranking makes her a dangerous floater in the draw. A semi-finalist here two years ago, she will next play Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 27th seed, sealed a third-round date with Dinara Safina with a 6-2 7-6 (7/2) win against France’s Julie Coin.

Ivanovic is also showing decent form as she bids to defend the title she claimed by beating Safina in straight sets in last year’s final.

The Serbian, seeded eighth, swept aside the challenge of Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn to win 6-1 6-2 on Philippe Chatrier court and set up a meeting with 32nd seed Iveta Benesova.

Discounting Sharapova’s win over Petrova, the biggest surprise of the day came on Court Seven, where 15th seed Jie Zheng was upset by Portuguese 16-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito, a qualifier.

While Dominika Cibulkova (20), Agnes Szavay (29) and Na Li (25) were comfortable seeded winners, Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, the ninth seed, was forced to battle before overcoming Kristina Barrois 7-6 (7/1) 7-5.

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