Australian Open

Sharapova sharp in return to Open

Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday in her first match at the Australian Open since a failed doping test in 2016 resulted in a 15-month ban.
Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday in her first match at the Australian Open since a failed doping test in 2016 resulted in a 15-month ban.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Maria Sharapova barely missed a beat in her first match at the Australian Open since a failed doping test here in 2016 resulted in a 15-month ban from tennis.

Along with Novak Djokovic, Sharapova helped ensure there were all kinds of comebacks Tuesday night while Roger Federer picked up where he left off at the Australian Open.

Sharapova, a five-time major winner, recovered from an early break in the second set and closed out her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Tatjana Maria with an ace.

"It's been a couple of years since I've been back here -- obviously I wanted to enjoy the moment," the 2008 Australian Open champion said after blowing kisses to the crowd.

Sharapova was banned after testing positive for the drug meldonium when she was here in 2016, and finished last year ranked No. 60 following a return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open.

Sharapova will next play No. 14-seeded Anastasija Sevastova, who beat her at last year's U.S. Open.

"I felt like I have got a lot of things out of the way physically and emotionally and mentally last year with -- there was a lot of firsts again for me, playing the first tournament, first Grand Slam, and just different feelings and what it would be routinely," Sharapova said. "But it felt pretty routine today."

Defending champion Federer, 36, defeat Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in a night match, his first on Rod Laver Arena since clinching a career-reviving title here last year. The 19-time major winner has been met on court after victories here previously by tennis greats Laver, John McEnroe and Jim Courier.

On Tuesday, he got something different. Comedian Will Ferrell stepped out of the crowd and, slipping into character as Ron Burgundy from the movie Anchorman, conducted the postmatch interview.

Six-time champion Djokovic and 2014 Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka earlier made successful returns from injury layoffs with victories in their first matches since Wimbledon.

Former No. 1-ranked Angelique Kerber, the 2016 Australian Open winner, continued her resurgent run with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Anna-Lena Friedsam to extend her streak to 10 consecutive victories.

"Something is going on with Australia and me," said former No. 1-ranked Kerber, who the Sydney International last week for her first title since the 2016 U.S. Open.

Djokovic tweaked his service motion while recovering from an injured right elbow, and used it to good effect in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Donald Young.

Djokovic lost in the second round here last year, but won five of the previous six Australian Open titles.

"Obviously I wanted to start with the right intensity, which I have," Djokovic said. "I played perfect tennis, like I never stopped."

Wawrinka, who had six months out after surgery on his left knee, beat Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (2).

No. 4-ranked 4-Alexander Zverev, No. 5 Dominic Thiem, No. 7 David Goffin, No. 19 Tomas Berdych advanced, but No. 20 Roberto Bautista Agut lost to Fernando Verdasco and former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic lost to Lukas Lacko.

No. 13 Sam Querrey restored some order for the U.S. men with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Feliciano Lopez.

Madison Keys reversed a trend, becoming the only one of the four American women who contested the U.S. Open semifinals four months ago to reach the second round in Australia.

No. 17-seeded Keys, the U.S. Open runner-up, advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Wang Qiang and will be one of four American women in the second round.

Top-ranked Simona Halep had to save set points at 5-2 down in the first set, and badly twisted her left ankle early in the second, before beating teenage wild-card entry Destanee Aiava 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Halep plays 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard next.

"It's always really cool to go up against the best in the world," Bouchard said. "I want to ... go out there and do some damage."

Wimbledon champion Garbine Mugurza, No. 6 Karolina Pliskova, No. 8 Caroline Garcia, No. 9 Johanna Konta, No. 16 Elena Vesnina, No. 26 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 28 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and No. 29 Lucie Safarova advanced.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 to Andrea Petkovic.

Sports on 01/17/2018

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