Sharapova powers through, Errani tumbles in China

BEIJING, Sept 28 (AFP): World number four Maria Sharapova powered through her first-round match at the $5.4 million China Open Sunday, but faces a tricky opponent at the next stage in Beijing.
The Russian beat Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-1 in her opening match of the tournament, and will meet world number 34 Elina Svitolina in the second round.
The Ukrainian beat world number eight Angelique Kerber earlier this week at the WTA Wuhan Open to make it to the semi-finals of the premier-ranking event, and will have her confidence sky-high.
But Sharapova will go into the game taking positives from her showing in the Chinese capital.
The 27-year-old crashed out in Wuhan with a demoralising two-set defeat against Timea Bacsinszky in the third round, but she looked more assured at Beijing's Olympic Park.
She traded breaks with her opponent twice midway through the first set, before breaking again with the scores 5-4 in her favour to take the opener.
Kanepi won only the fourth game of the second set, as Sharapova took command and wrapped up the match in 90 minutes.
The French Open champion made six double faults in the match, which was the only stain on an otherwise dominant performance.
The victory was her fourth against her 29-year-old opponent in all meetings between the pair, but Sharapova said she had to battle hard for the win.