Sharapova Saves Two Match Points, Survives Scare in Melboure

In one of the best matches of the tournament in either draw thus far, second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova saved three match points to escape with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 victory over fellow Russian Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open.

Sharapova got all she could handle from the 25-year-old qualifier, and seemed to be on the brink of elimination midway through the final frame. After cruising through the first set with no issues, Panova played came out firing in the second set and began to go for bolder shots.

She unleashed a powerful serve that took Sharapova by surprise and forced the four-time Australian Open champion into unforced errors. Sharapova had 23 unforced errors in the second set alone and Panova would force a deciding third with a 6-4 second set win.

Panova came out firing again in the third and Sharapova continued to go for big winners on the baseline, leading to 20 more unforced errors in the set. Panova led 4-1 and even had a chance to go up 5-1 before Sharapova stormed back to pull within 4-5.

From there, the qualifier had two chances to close out the match on her serve, at 40-30 and on the following deuce. Sharapova disposed of both of those chances though and refused to bow out of Melbourne this early. She broke her compatriot and then held to flip the score 6-5, and with momentum securely on her side she broke again to seal up the two hour and 32 minutes match.

“I’m just happy to get through—I was one point away twice today from being out of the tournament,” said Sharapova. “I was not playing my best tennis today, I think she played a pretty inspired match.”

Sharapova will need to sure things up in her third-round match. She committed 51 unforced errors in the match and was let off the hook by a young player who had never been in that big of a position before.

Up next for Sharapova is Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas. The 31st seeded Diyas came back from a set down to knock off Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia 3-6, 6-2, 8-6.

While Sharapova needed every ounce of energy she had to advance, third-seeded Simona Halep and seventh-seeded Eugenie Bouchard cruised in their respective second-round contests.

Halep took on Australian Jarmila Gajdosova and quickly routed the hometown favorite 6-2, 6-2. The third-ranked Romanian hit 21 winners to just 12 unforced errors and fired seven aces in the 66 minute contest.

“I played much better than the first round tonight, so I’m happy with the match,” said Halep. “I was more aggressive and I served very well tonight. I played fast and stayed very close to the baseline. I opened the court and did some good angles, finishing the points and making some good winners.

I did well tonight. I’m really happy with the way I’m playing right now.”

In the third-round Halep will take on impressive American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.  The Rochester, Minn. native edged out two tie-breakers in a 7-6(3), 7-6(6) win over France’s Kristina Mladenovic.

Bouchard continued her excellent play in Melbourne with a 6-0, 6-3 drubbing of the Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens. The young Canadian won six break points and had a solid ratio of 20 winners to 14 unforced errors as she wrapped up the win in less than an hour.

She will take on France’s Caroline Garcia in the third-round. Garcia ousted Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele on Wednesday.

“It’s going to be super tough. I know she’s a good up-and-comer. She can have some big shots,” said Bouchard. “It’s up to me to try and not let her to be aggressive, and try to focus on my game and play positive.”

After dealing with a stomach issue in her opening round win, Christina McHale was unable to get anything going in her second-round match. The American was routed by young German Carina Witthoeft 6-3, 6-0.

Witthoeft will take on Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the third-round.

The 10th-seeded Ekaterina Makarova, 14th-seeded Sara Errani and 22nd-seeded Karolina Pliskova were all winners on Wednesday as well.

Click here for all the results from Day Three at the Australian Open.