Sharapova clears first hurdle

Second-seed Maria Sharapova had to battle before finally securing her place in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.

The Russian was given a thorough examination by Frenchwoman Emilie Toit, but eventually triumphed 6-3 7-6 (7/4) on the Philippe Chatrier court in a match that lasted almost two hours.

Sharapova has been nursing a shoulder injury in the run-up to the tournament, but that did not seem to trouble her as she set up a second-round match-up with American Jill Craybas.

Third-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova had an easier time of it, cruising past fellow Russian Ekaterina Bychkova 6-0 6-3.

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, seeded seven, trounced Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-0, while there were also easy wins for 15th-seed Shahar Peer, ninth-seed Anna Chakvetadze and 17th-seed Katarina Srebotnik early on the fourth day.

Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 champion, lasted just 38 minutes before her campaign was ended by American Meghann Shaughnessy.

The Russian was thrashed 6-1 6-0 in the first round, in only her second competitive clash of the year.

She has not won a match since Stockholm last August, with injury and poor form hitting the former world number two hard.