Sharapova, Wawrinka reach US Open 3rd round

NEW YORK, Aug 28 (AFP): French Open champion Maria Sharapova and Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka survived some shaky moments Wednesday to book their third-round berths at the US Open.
Sharapova, who lifted her fifth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year, fought back from a set down in a gritty 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over 95th-ranked Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.
The fifth-seeded Russian was reluctant to blame the windy conditions in the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court for her difficulties, which included 46 unforced errors.
And after two hours and 26 minutes on court-in a match that began in hot sunshine and ended under the floodlights-she had her 17th three-set win of the season, the most on the WTA Tour.
"It was difficult," Sharapova said. "Obviously the conditions were tough. You start in the sun, you finish under the lights. Sharapova and Wawrinka were the day's headliners as two-time defending women's champion Serena Williams and the top men Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all had the day off.
Wawrinka, the third seed from Switzerland, turned back the challenge of Brazilian left-hander Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1) to become the first men's seed into the third round.