Sure-footed Sharapova progresses easily

Russia’s Maria Sharapova dropped just two games as she cruised into the second round at Wimbledon today.

Sharapova, aiming to regain the title she won as a 17-year-old in 2004, was simply a class above Israel’s Anna Smashnova in perfect conditions on court one.

The fourth seed broke serve in the first game of the match and raced into a 3-0 lead, although two woeful attempts to volley at the net and a double fault saw her lose serve in the next game.

The 19-year-old immediately broke back however and two aces helped her close out the set 6-2.

Smashnova was making her 12th appearance at Wimbledon in the last 13 years, but with a 3-11 win/loss record was never likely to cause an upset.

In contrast Sharapova won the title on only her second senior appearance at the All England Club and reached the semi-finals last year, losing to eventual winner Venus Williams.

The second set was even more one-sided than the first, Sharapova breaking serve three times to take it 6-0 and seal a resounding victory in just 51 minutes.