World number three Maria Sharapova opened her Australian Open account for 2014 with a hard-fought win over American player Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Rod Laver Arena.
At times Sharapova hit her stride but there were far too many errors in an opening set that went the way of the Russian 6-3 after 48 minutes.
Despite holding a 3-0 lead in the second set Sharapova was pegged back to 3-4, but she broke again late in the set to take it 6-4.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.
Hello tennis fans! With the unfortunate abrupt ending of what was meant to be an excellent match between Rafael Nadal and Bernard Tomic it's time for the last of the day. We have action from the women's draw with third seed Sharapova against Mattek-Sands.
Sharapova's opponent does have the capability to cause an upset, but she is the sort of player that needs many areas of her game to click together. She is versatile, but does come up against the big-hitting Sharapova, which will probably prove too much.
The world number 41 has, however, never been beyond the first round here in Melbourne. She will need to produce on of her best-ever showings in order to manage that today, you would think. That said, Sharapova has recently made a comeback from a long-term injury, so there could be rustiness that Mattek-Sands will look to take advantage of early on.
Here come the players. Mattek-Sands has a typical quirky outfit on - including knee-high socks. As far as I can see there's just one colour of dye in her hair today, though. Sharapova looks typically focused as she looks to go beyond the semi-final she managed last time out.
Sharapova had an ok season last time. No major wins, but she did make the final of the French Open. She of course missed the US Open in order to be fully fit for the start of this season. She definitely wants to put in four solid Slam performances in 2014.
Her opponent Mattek-Sands is also recovering from an injury she suffered at the end of last year. She has taken only one set in five previous appearances against Sharapova. She'll need two more if she will not be going home early, of course. The players are about to start as time is called.
Dreadful start for Sharapova. Her first serve ends with a double fault - it can only get better from here.
She has responded well, though, with some decent baseline play forcing a couple of errors from the American.
A final error from a wide return hands the first game of the match to Sharapova. It was an awful start, but no risk at all that she was dropping her opening serve. What can Mattek-Sands do with the ball?
A good start. She moves up 30-0 with some big hits from the baseline forcing Sharapova to go long. However, the Russian responds with a thunderous return winner.
Despite the good start from the American, Sharapova has battled back here and a long shot from Mattek-Sands brings up a break point...
BREAK! Mattek-Sands tried to rush the issue there and on second serve hits her return long. Too many errors so far and Sharapova has hardly had to work for her break.
That's good, though, from the American, who plays Sharapova at her own game with a powerful forehand winner into the corner.
Even better! A Sharapova drop shot is surely a winner but no, her opponent gets there to dink it just over the net across court for 0-30.
Brilliant response from Sharapova. She dominates two points from the baseline to level up the game.
Then gives up a break point with another double fault. Chance here, can she take it?
Emphatically no! A forehand comes off the bottom of her racquet and flies long and wide for deuce.
A great battle in this game. Sharapova keeps getting advantage, but Mattek-Sands is winning the rallies so the Russian cannot put them away.
Important hold for Sharapova, who battled back from 0-30 to take the game. We have finally seen signs that Mattek-Sands can play, but her game is still far too error-strewn - she threw her break point chance away.
Now two double faults in a row from the American gift Sharapova another break point...
This time, going for the winner down the line, Sharapova just puts her forehand wide for deuce. However, Mattek-Sands disappointingly nets on the next point.
BREAK! She makes no mistake this time! Immediately Sharapova dominates the point from the baseline, goes deep into the corner to set up an easy winner. This set is almost over.
It's now 0-30 again to Mattek-Sands as another flat second serve from Sharapova goes into the net. Her third double.
At 0-30 it's a let-off as Mattek-Sands nets a second-serve return, but to level it up it's pure power and accuracy from the Russian. She then puts a shot wide, however, and the American has break point.
BREAK! Mattek-Sands just cannot cope with Sharapova when her shots are hitting their target. Break point quickly becomes advantage to the Russian but she then hits a forehand down the line into the tramlines and a fourth double fault. This time the American can take advantage and gets one of the breaks back.
Decent service game this from Mattek-Sands, who goes 40-30 up despite Sharapova trying to slow her down with delaying tactics. Then double fault rears his ugly head again, and we're at deuce. Four each.
Just as the American has Sharapova running, she blows the chance with a forehand into the tramlines. She then gets advantage back with an ace and follows it up with another good serve that's returned into the net. Important hold.
Decent response from Sharapova, who holds firm for 30-15 as Mattek-Sands's shot just goes into the top of the net.
I must have spoken too soon, as the American has clawed a break point out of this one...
She blows it again by putting a backhand into the tramlines. From that point there was only likely to be one winner of the game, and Sharapova holds - marginally, once more - to move just one away from the first set.
Sharapova will have to earn this set win. Mattek-Sands produces her best service game of the match so far to put the balls back in Sharapova's court. All she needs to do now is hold, but that hasn't been easy in her last three service games.
So far, so good for Sharapova, although it should be 40-0 and not 30-15 as she misses with a forehand.
Now two set points for the Russian... You wouldn't bet against her here.
SET! Indeed she does take it at the first time of asking. That wasn't a set of the highest quality you will see, but Sharapova did just about enough to take it. It will be tough now for Mattek-Sands to get something from this.
The first point of the second set is really, really good. It's a gruelling baseline rally and after 18 shots it's the American who goes slightly long.
Good start to the second set from the American. That first point was the only one she lost and she won the game with a well-worked point, coming to the net for a drop shot.
Sharapova is looking good at 30-15, but another double fault creeps in. Any immediate threat of a break is quickly extinguished with an ace, however, for 40-15.
That is as good a backhand winner as you're likely to see for the next fortnight! Sharapova catches it on the half-volley and although her opponent is well placed it flies past her for 1-1.
Sharapova is really hitting her stride now. She dominates a second serve to set up a winner at the net for 15-30.
However, the American has battled back here to bring it to deuce. It would be an important hold from behind in the game.
Magical shot from Sharapova! She rocks back and smashes an out-spinning forehand that shaves the line for break point.
BREAK! This could be a decisive break. It took her four attemps, but finally she steps into a big forehand winner to get her nose ahead in the set. Her power is just too much at times.
It's 30-30 on Sharapova's latest serve and still there are too many errors in her game. An unforced forehand goes into the net.
Whoops. Double fault. Sharapova almost challenges but it did look just out. Deuce.
Really good hold in the end for Sharapova, but once more she had to battle for it. A serve goes right into the corner and she follows it up with a backhand winner down the line to move three games away from the second round.
You feel if she broke there it would be curtains for her opponent. However, it's advantage Mattek-Sands as a ball hits the edge of the line on deuce and she follows it up with a hold. She's still a break behind, but has had chances and will surely get more.
She still isn't serving very well, Sharapova. She almost double-faults but does hit the net anyway with her next shot. It's 15-15 and all to play for.
Now two break points for Mattek-Sands who smashes a backhand down the line out of the reach of Sharapova. Key moment in this game, here.
BREAK! That's an absolutely terrible forehand from Sharapova on the pressure point, which hands the game to her opponent. We're back level in the second.
An unstoppable backhand from Sharapova as she arrows it down the line for 30-30. Can she break right back?
No, she can't. Two more awful shots - the first a baffling attempt at a forehand winner when over the highest part of the net - concede the game and that's now three in a row for the American. She's improved, certainly, but there's a strong element of Sharapova imploding and she has to sort it out.
Sharapova finally ends up on the winning side of a rally, which will do her confidence the world of good.
This is much more like it. What a ridiculous cross-court backhand to wrong-foot the American from Sharapova. It's 40-0 and she's getting on with it here.
Sharapova quickly levels to put the pressure back on Mattek-Sands. Has the momentum shifted at a good time for the Russian?
Brilliant overhead volley at the net from the American, who just finds the edge of the baseline with the first point of the game.
Two unforced errors from the American brings us level at 30-30. Big serve this...
She's up to it! After a good serve she found the corner and finished off with a backhand winner. Game point.
BREAK! That might be it now! Two double faults in the game and Mattek-Sands has thrown that one away. The Russian breaks at the perfect time and now just needs to hold for a place in the second round. That's been easier said than done for her so far, of course.
Two match points for Sharapove here. I don't think she'll waste both of them...
GAME, SET AND MATCH SHARAPOVA!
The quality of tennis on display will quickly be forgotten here, but Sharapova did just about enough in difficult conditions. Mattek-Sands's wait to reach the second round here goes on.
So Sharapova had a few words to say after the match:
"After missing the Grand Slam in New York I was really hoping to start well against a really tough opponent. I'm happy to get through the first round which is always challenging.
"I've had some tough games against her in the past and she has made it hard for other players so this was always going to be a tricky first round."
Thanks for joining me for this match. We'll be back with more action tomorrow as the second round gets underway. Until then, it's goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
