Sharapova squeezes through after testing clash

World number two Maria Sharapova could not hide her relief after avoiding a major upset at the French Open as she came from a set down to defeat fellow Russian Evgenia Linetskaya.

The 18-year-old, who is the second seed at Roland Garros, needed two hours and 26 minutes to book her place in the second round by defeating her opponent 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-4.