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Great escape for Sharapova important RESULTS

TENNIS / Nadal and Djokovic sail through

— Photo: Reuters

TOUGH ENCOUNTER: Maria Sharapova scraped past Evgeniya Rodina in the first round at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

PARIS: Maria Sharapova almost became the first women’s top seed in Roland Garros history to lose in the opening round on Wednesday as Rafael Nadal showed her the way to master the surface.

As a vicious swirling wind, which turned the famous claycourts here into a dustbowl, replaced the torrential downpour of the previous day, Russian golden girl Sharapova toiled for two and a half hours before squeezing past teenage compatriot, and World No. 104, Evgeniya Rodina 6-1, 3-6, 8-6.

Sharapova, who needs a title here to complete a career Grand Slam, served up 17 double faults and twice had to serve to stay in the match.Sharapova will next play American qualifier Bethanie Mattek.Triple men’s champion Nadal comfortably extended his perfect Roland Garros record as he took a step closer to emulating Bjorn Borg as the only four-in-a-row winner. The 21-year-old Spaniard advanced with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 opening round victory over Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci.

Third seed Novak Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, wasted no time in reaching the third round with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Miguel-Angel Jaen of Spain.

Ferrero pulls out

Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 champion and 23rd seed, was a first round casualty when he pulled out injured against Brazil’s Marcos Daniel.

The Spaniard, who had never lost his opener in his eight previous visits, won the first set 7-6(5) and was 2-2 in the second when he called it quits with a thigh injury.

Australia’s 25th seed Lleyton Hewitt showed no signs of his recent hip injury when he brushed aside France’s Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the second round.

Also safely through was Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer who enjoyed a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Belgium’s Steve Darcis .

Former World No.1 Marat Safin reached the second round with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win over Monaco’s Jean-Rene Lisnard.

In the women’s draw, French ninth seed Marion Bartoli, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, was knocked out in the first round by Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2. — AFP

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