Final thoughts
So, Sharapova is through to the second round after a decent enough outing. Maria posed a few problems here and there, but as opening performances go, the Russian did enough to suggest her comeback is well on track. Sure, there are a few kinks in her game to iron out, but more than anything today, she showed she still has the hunger to succeed – and that should be of concern to any of her rivals.
Thanks for joining us today. There’s another liveblog firing up in a couple of hours, taking in the evening session and the likes of Federer, Barty and Del Potro. Make sure you join Jacob Steinberg then, but from me for now, goodbye!
Updated
Game, set and match: Maria Sharapova wins 6-1, 6-4!
Second set: Maria 1-6, 4-6 Sharapova* (*denotes server): For a moment it looks like Maria has what it takes to get back into this one, but yet more powerful Sharapova groundstrokes prove too much and set up match point for the Russian. And she takes it at the first time of asking, suitably with an ace!
Second set: Maria* 1-6, 4-5 Sharapova (*denotes server): Maria’s not heading home just yet. She’s fighting for every point and holds to love to stay alive. For now, at least.
With Sharapova now serving for the match and a place in the second round, I’m not sure Andrew’s going to get his wish this time.
@mike_hytner Delighted to have seen @MariaSharapova in the China Open in Beijing in October - certainly a vigorous battler on court. However three setters are best for the crowd, though - hope this match goes all the way! pic.twitter.com/NlbrcShKs8
— Andrew Benton (@thangnangman) January 16, 2018
Second set: Maria 1-6, 3-5 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Sharapova edges closer to her first victory at Melbourne Park for two years with another display of power serving. When she gets that part of her game right, she makes it very difficult for her opponent. She holds and the pressure is now on Maria, who will now have to hold serve to stay in this match.
Second set: Maria* 1-6, 3-4 Sharapova (*denotes server): At 30-30, Sharapova has Maria running all over the court, but the German hangs in there and takes the game to two deuces. Her resistance is eventually broken though and a double fault at break point does for her this game, and possibly the match.
Second set: Maria 1-6, 3-3 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Sharapova aces and then a superb serve right down the T immediately makes it difficult for Maria. The German then manages to pull out a stunning forehand down the line to stay alive this game, but any hope is extinguished soon enough as Sharapova holds to level things up.
Second set: Maria* 1-6, 3-2 Sharapova (*denotes server): Maria is on occasion being pushed all the way back into the shadows, such is the strength of Sharapova’s hitting, and the Russian is able to convert that dominance of the court into a break. Back on serve now in the second set.
Second set: Maria 1-6, 3-1 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Sharapova kicks off with a double fault and then a wayward baseline shot sees her go 0-30 down and offer Maria a glimmer of hope of getting back into the match. That glimmer gets brighter with another unforced error from the Russian and on break point Sharapova is again off target. Maria is back in this one!
Updated
Second set: Maria* 1-6, 2-1 Sharapova (*denotes server): A lengthy rally at 15-15 is eventually won by Maria, who extracts an extra ounce of power with a vocal outburst of her own on a backhand down the line. Superb shot, and it sets her up to go on and win the game, Sharapova misjudging a seemingly simple overhead smash on game point.
Second set: Maria 1-6, 1-1 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Shouts of “Let’s go, Masha, let’s go” ring out at the changeover, giving an indication of the Russian’s popularity in Melbourne. She does indeed go again this game, using that beautiful serve to good effect. All square after two games this set.
Second set: Maria* 1-6, 1-0 Sharapova (*denotes server): Much better from Maria. She holds to love in the opening game of the second set.
Diplomatic crisis update: all-out conflict has been avoided. The headphones (and my ears) are now taking the full brunt of Sharapova’s grunting. Everyone can breathe easy.
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Maria Sharapova wins the first set 6-1!
First set: Maria 1-6 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Sharapova wobbles with her first double fault of the match. But she regains composure and serves out to win the first set pretty comfortably.
Meanwhile, Sharapova’s grunting is causing a minor diplomatic crisis in the Guardian’s Sydney newsroom. Apparently, people are trying to concentrate on work or something, and the regular shrieks emanating from the telly are off-putting. IT guru Mirza is currently trying to reduce the size of the headphone jack in a desperate attempt to keep relations with the culture desk civil.
Updated
First set: Maria* 1-5 Sharapova (*denotes server): Oof. Sharapova is on fire here. A series of powerful groundstrokes put her in a commanding position at 40-0 up at which point Maria doesn’t help herself with a double fault to hand the game to the Russian. Sharapova will now serve for the first set.
First set: Maria 1-4 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Maria, who made the second round in Melbourne last year, noses ahead early in this game before Sharapova aces for the first time and goes on to secure the fifth game of this encounter – and a healthy advantage this set.
First set: Maria* 1-3 Sharapova (*denotes server): Sharapova comes out swinging this game and her grunting becomes louder (if that was possible) in direct proportion to the power of her hitting. If the ball had feelings, you couldn’t help feel sorry for it. It’s taking an absolute pounding. Maria is overwhelmed and Sharapova opens up that break advantage once more.
First set: Maria 1-2 Sharapova* (*denotes server): Time now for Maria to clench her fist as she wins her first point off Sharapova’s serve with a forehand winner. Sharapova’s struggling with the sun as she tosses the ball into the air at that end – a couple of times she has to restart her service motion – and the German pounces to get to break point, despite some powerful groundstrokes from Sharapova. And she takes it to break back immediately!
First set: Maria* 0-2 Sharapova (*denotes server): Sharapova looks sharp here. She fashions two break points, and takes the second as Maria hits one long. “C’mon!” shouts the Russian. She’s pumped.
Are livebloggers included in “commentators”? If so, they’re pretty short odds.
@mike_hytner what odds are you offering for the commentators getting their Marias mixed up?
— Mirza Nurkić (@mnurkic) January 16, 2018
First set: Maria 0-1 Sharapova* (*denotes server): The players warm up swiftly and off we go without any further ado. The familiar Sharapova shriek rings out as she lets off her first serve of the day and she looks the part throughout the opening game as she holds to love.
Over on Hisense, Johanna Konta has wasted no time at all in seeing off Madison Brengle. As Kevin Mitchell writes:
Konta mixed impressive groundstrokes with an excellent service game and some marginal work at the net, to win 6-3, 6-1 in 66 minutes in the HiSense Arena.
And here come the players onto a sun-kissed Margaret Court Arena. Whoops and cheers ring out as Sharapova is introduced onto court. (Also for Maria.)
Updated
We’re all set: Caroline Garcia, the French eighth seed, has just dispatched Carina Witthoeft in two sets – the first of which was a lot tighter than the second. Garcia appeared to be cruising in the second, but had to fend off an attempted fightback before sealing the deal 7-5, 6-3.
Preamble
Hello and welcome all. So, Maria Sharapova’s back, 10 years after lifting the Australian Open trophy on Rod Laver Arena, and two years after testing positive for meldonium at Melbourne Park, an incident which culminated in her serving a 15-month ban from tennis, untold opinion pieces and a subsequent quest to rebuild her career.
The latter has seen the Russian rise to the heady heights of 48th in the world heading into this tournament, one place below the woman standing in her way today, Tatjana Maria of Germany. Rankings can be deceiving though; Sharapova is showing signs of ominous form and is expected to pull through this one.
As a barometer of form and potential chances of success in Melbourne then, today will be instructive, but of equal interest will be the reaction of the crowd to Sharapova. Before she even stepped onto a court, he had caused something of a stir after being chosen to front last week’s draw, in the absence of reigning champ Serena Williams.
Whether that was the right decision or not is open to debate. Certainly most have an opinion – this, for example, by Sean Ingle is a particularly good read:
Anyway, we shall soon find out. Stick with us, the players will be out shortly. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with any thoughts on today’s match, the tournament or anything else really. It’d be nice to have your company.
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Mike will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Jacob Steinberg on Maria Sharapova:
The Russian is sure to split opinion wherever she goes, though one thing that is not in doubt is her ferocious competitiveness. The 30-year-old has been climbing the rankings since her return from a doping ban and she will be a threat simply because of her willingness to scrap. Sharapova reached the fourth round at the US Open but, while her slam pedigree is matched by few of her peers, she has a tough draw and will likely have to get past the 2016 victor, Angelique Kerber, just to reach the last 16 here.
