Sharapova cruises past Groth

Maria Sharapova breezed through to the second round of the WTA LA Women’s Tennis Championships in Los Angeles with a straight-sets victory over Jarmila Groth.

The 22-year-old Russian triumphed 6-0 6-4 against her Slovakian opponent to secure a second-round date with third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

The highest-seeded casualty was Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, with Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze defeating the 11th seed 7-6 (7/5) 6-3.

Fifteenth seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and Francesca Schiavone, the 16th seed from Italy, also suffered first-round exits.

Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic overcame Kanepi 6-3 7-6 (7/4) while American qualifier Jill Craybas was a 7-6 (9/7) 6-2 winner against Schiavone.

There were no such worries for 10th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta, although she was made to work hard for a 6-2 5-7 6-0 victory over American lucky loser Varvara Lepchenko.

Peng Shuai claimed her place in round two courtesy of a hard-fought 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 triumph over Dutch qualifier Michaella Krajicek.

Shahar Peer of Israel was 7-5 4-1 up on Anastasia Rodionova when the Russian qualifier retired with a left ankle injury, while Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine came from a set down to defeat American Meghann Shaughnessy 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Elsewhere, there were comfortable straight-sets victories for Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Alisa Kleybanova, Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, Ai Sugiyama of Japan and American wild card Vania King.

Finally, American Coco Vandeweghe advanced with a 6-4 6-4 win over Italy’s Tathiana Garbin.