MADRID: Maria Sharapova made a profitable return from harm on Tuesday via beating Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6 (10/eight), 6-Zero to achieve the second one round of the Mallorca Open.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has no longer played since the end of January after taking time out to recuperate from a shoulder harm however edged a good opening set in opposition to Kuzmova sooner than strolling thru the second one.
Victory at the grass will come as a well timed boost to morale for Sharapova, with the beginning of Wimbledon now less than two weeks away.
Angelique Kerber may now look ahead to Sharapova in round two, with the top-seeded German up in opposition to Belgium's Ysaline Bonaventure afterward Tuesday.
Kerber has struggled for form herself this 12 months however is likely to provide a sterner test than Kuzmova, the Slovak ranked 46th in the world and who is still best 21.
Sharapova's own score has dipped to 86 throughout her absence, that means the Russian needed a wildcard to enter the draw in Mallorca, her fourth tournament this 12 months.
A aggravating first-set tie-break required Sharapova to save lots of two set points sooner than clinching the frame and Kuzmova never recovered, a limp second set finishing with a half-volley dropped into the net.
Earlier, another former major champion crashed out as France's Caroline Garcia got here from at the back of to overcome Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-Four, 7-Five.
Garcia maintained momentum with an outstanding victory over the Belarusian, fresh from profitable her first identify of the 12 months and seventh of her occupation at the Nottingham Open on Sunday.
The international quantity 28 will now face either American Alison Riske or Spain's Paula Badosa Gibert for a spot within the third round.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has no longer played since the end of January after taking time out to recuperate from a shoulder harm however edged a good opening set in opposition to Kuzmova sooner than strolling thru the second one.
Victory at the grass will come as a well timed boost to morale for Sharapova, with the beginning of Wimbledon now less than two weeks away.
Angelique Kerber may now look ahead to Sharapova in round two, with the top-seeded German up in opposition to Belgium's Ysaline Bonaventure afterward Tuesday.
Kerber has struggled for form herself this 12 months however is likely to provide a sterner test than Kuzmova, the Slovak ranked 46th in the world and who is still best 21.
Sharapova's own score has dipped to 86 throughout her absence, that means the Russian needed a wildcard to enter the draw in Mallorca, her fourth tournament this 12 months.
A aggravating first-set tie-break required Sharapova to save lots of two set points sooner than clinching the frame and Kuzmova never recovered, a limp second set finishing with a half-volley dropped into the net.
Earlier, another former major champion crashed out as France's Caroline Garcia got here from at the back of to overcome Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-Four, 7-Five.
Garcia maintained momentum with an outstanding victory over the Belarusian, fresh from profitable her first identify of the 12 months and seventh of her occupation at the Nottingham Open on Sunday.
The international quantity 28 will now face either American Alison Riske or Spain's Paula Badosa Gibert for a spot within the third round.
Sharapova makes winning return in Mallorca
![Sharapova makes winning return in Mallorca]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 19, 2019
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