Zeenews Sports Bureau
Melbourne: World No. 2, Maria Sharapova began her Australian Open campaign in style demolishing her opponent Olga Puchkova in 55 minutes on Monday, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 win.
The Russian didn’t exhibit any signs of pain in her right shoulder that kept her out of the Brisbane International earlier this month.
"I didn`t want to focus on the fact I hadn`t played a lot of matches," Sharapova was quoted as saying by a news agency after the match.
Sharapova will meet Venus Williams in the third round provided their campaigns doesn’t suffer any setback,
Earlier, Venus needed just an hour for her opening 6-1, 6-0 win over Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan.
Sharapova had lost the final of the event to Victoria Azarenka here last year before going on to win the French Open.
With Agencies
First Published: Monday, January 14, 2013, 08:51