MELBOURNE, Victoria: Russia\'s Maria Sharapova plays a shot during her women\'s singles match against Croatia\'s Petra Martic on day one of the 2015 Australian Open tennis tournament here Monday. — AFP Photo MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (AFP): Second seed Maria Sharapova launched her Australian Open campaign in emphatic fashion on Monday, crushing Petra Martic of Croatia in straight sets to send an ominous warning to her rivals.
The Russian five-time Grand Slam champion can regain the coveted number one ranking from arch-rival Serena Williams if she wins a second title at Melbourne Park and was all business as she downed Martic 6-4, 6-1.
The 27-year-old said she was benefitting from a strong lead-in to the season-opening Grand Slam, when she won the Brisbane International.
"I made a few too many unforced errors but overall I'm glad I got through," Sharapova said. "She was a tough opponent and was really inspired.
"She can play. She's got some big weapons... I knew I had to be really strong from the beginning."
On a day when eight of the women's seeds were eliminated, including fifth-ranked Ana Ivanovic, Sharapova said she went into her night match on centre court wary of world number 184 Martic.
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