MELBOURNE—Maria Sharapova couldn’t have asked for much of a better first-round outcome. Facing world No. 47 Tatjana Maria, the five-time Grand Slam champion eased into round two with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Do people doubt that the unseeded Sharapova will do well here? Of course. It’s just her second Grand Slam since her failed drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, her ranking is a modest No. 48 and she hasn’t won a hard-court major in 10 years. But that hard-court major win was the Australian Open in 2008.
Pretty in pink, Sharapova certainly looked at home on Tuesday inside Margaret Court Arena. She even cracked a joke in her on-court interview.
“You never quite know how to pack for Melbourne,” she said. “I think I packed really bad for this trip.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. Sharapova still suffered through streaks of unforced errors, particularly late in the match. But the first set went quickly in the 30-year-old’s favor, settling her nerves and dispelling any fears of a slow start. She piled up 14 winners, while her more defensive opponent (who wields a looping, one-handed backhand) had just four.
"I feel like I'm building," she said. "I feel like with every tournament and every week I have different feelings about different things. Some things are coming a little slower than I wanted. Some things I feel good about."
Maria challenged Sharapova just enough in the second set to a) make the match competitive and b) give Sharapova the confidence she needs for her next match. While she was handed the first set on a silver platter, Sharapova had to earn the second. She sealed it with an ace and a euphoric smile.