Maria Sharapova had absolutely no problems getting past Great Britain’s Harriet Dart while Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic all registered straight-set wins in their first round matches at the 2019 Australian Open.
Russian Sharapova, who is a previous Australian Open winner and seeded 30th in the world, double-bageled Harriet Dart in her opening round, winning 6-0, 6-0 to set up a second round meeting with Rebecca Peterson.
Sweden’s Peterson overcame Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-4 to enter the second round.
Harriet Dart has had a great start to to season. But the 2 matches she’s played v top 50 players (Sevastova and Sharapova) she’s lost the 4 sets 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0). So work needed to get her to at least getting competing against top players. But will still hit career high 130.?
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) January 14, 2019
Sabalenka, who is one of the most improved players on the women’s circuit had Anna Kalinskaya in front of her for her round one match and she raced off to a 6-1 win in the first set.
Kalinskaya fought hard in the second set but came second, losing it 6-4 to allow Sabalenka a second round match-up against either Katie Boulter or Ekaterina Makarova.
Another Great Britain player Heather Watson, also fell in the first round to Petra Martic, losing 6-1, 6-2. Martic now faces Marketa Vondroušová who took out Evginiya Rodina in her opener.
There were a lot of hopes from young sensation Jessika Ponchet but she fell to countrywoman, France’s Garcia, seeded 19th in the tournament. Garcia won 6-2, 6-2 to advance to round two.
Another seeded player Donna Vekic dropped six games en route her straight-set win over Kristina Mladenovic.
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