Sharapova victorious in return
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:00:45 +0000
MADRID (AFP) – Maria Sharapova made a winning return from injury on Tuesday by beating Viktoria Kuzmova, 7-6 (10/8), 6-0, to reach the second round of the Mallorca Open.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has not played since the end of January after taking time out to recover from a shoulder injury, but edged a tight opening set against Kuzmova before strolling through the second.
Victory on the grass will come as a timely boost to morale for Sharapova, with the start of Wimbledon now less than two weeks away.
Maria Sharapova celebrates after winning against Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova. Sharapova won 7-6 (10-8), 6-0. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP)
“It’s my first win in about three or four months,” Sharapova said afterwards.
“It’s great to be here in Mallorca. What a great place to train and have a warm-up tournament. It’s been amazing for all of us here, and it’s just been nice to experience it for the first time.”
Angelique Kerber now awaits Sharapova in round two after the top-seeded German defeated Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
Earlier, another former major champion crashed out as France’s Caroline Garcia came from behind to beat Victoria Azarenka, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
FEDERER WINS
In Halle Westfalen, Germany, Roger Federer began his run-up to Wimbledon with a win as he beat Australian John Millman in straight sets to reach the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle on Tuesday.
Federer won his first grass-court game of the season, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, on a muggy evening in Halle to set up a second-round meeting with French veteran Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga, 34, said it would be “something special” to face Federer after he beat compatriot Benoit Paire, 6-4, 7-5, on Tuesday.