Sharapova wins 1st round match at ASB Classic

Former top ranked Maria Sharapova overcame a last-minute change of opponent to beat Alberta Brianti of Italy 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the second round of the ASB Classic tennis tournament on Monday.

By (AP)

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Published: Mon 3 Jan 2011, 12:34 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 10:09 AM

Sharapova was due to play Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in her first round match, but the late withdrawal of fifth-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia through illness led to a reshuffle of the draw.

Suarez Navarro became the tournament’s eighth seed and Sharapova played her first match of 2011 against Brianti, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after being beaten in the last round of qualifying.

Sharapova took 90 minutes to down Brianti and said she was unfazed by the late change to the schedule.


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