Sharapova through after tough test

Number one seed Maria Sharapova reached the second round of the Australian Open after battling through “one of the toughest matches I’ve played here”.

The former Wimbledon champion recorded a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 9-7 victory over Camille Pin despite midday temperatures of up to 36C prompting all play on the outside courts to be suspended as the tournament’s extreme heat policy was invoked.