Tennis News * Sharapova races through first set * Fights off early elimination with powerful forehands (Adds quotes) MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) - World number two Maria Sharapova fought off two match points with crunching forehands to sneak into the third round of the Australian Open following a 6-1 4-6 7-5 victory over qualifier Alexandra Panova on Wednesday. Sharapova raced through the first set in 26 minutes, winning two service games to love and breaking her Russian compatriot three times, but the 25-year-old Panova clawed her way back. Panova, whose opening round win over Sorana Cirstea was her first in a grand slam main draw, took a 5-2 lead in the second set before Sharapova battled back and had a chance to level it, but Panova held her nerve to send the match to a deciding set. Sharapova took a break between sets but grew more anguished as Panova seized a 2-0 lead, and then built two match points serving at 5-4.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:47:18 +0000
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