Smooth start from Sharapova

Seventh seed Maria Sharapova swept into the second round of the French Open today for the loss of only three games against Mirjana Lucic.

The Russian, who will complete her set of grand slams if she lifts the title on the Paris clay, won the last nine games to cruise through 6-3 6-0 in 56 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Sharapova is returning to something like her best form after a lengthy struggle with shoulder problems and she marked herself out as a potential title contender by winning the prestigious warm-up event in Rome earlier this month.

Lucic, whose life and career have been blighted by an abusive father, reached her first quarter-final on the main Tour last week in Strasbourg since a last-four appearance at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 1999 but she could not compete with Sharapova’s power.

The 24-year-old, who next faces Caroline Garcia, said: “It was a tough beginning because she started off serving really big and I didn’t get too many looks on second serves. Once I got a good rhythm I felt like I started playing better and better.

“It’s a good way to start. The first round is always a little tricky, especially when you don’t know your opponent too well.”

Sixth seed and Australian Open finalist Li Na was given a real battle by Barbora Zahlavova Strycova before coming through 6-3 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 but 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic was dumped out by Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.

The Serb, who has struggled for form since her Roland Garros triumph, looked to have turned things around but played a poor third set to go down 7-6 (7/3) 0-6 6-2.

There was an emotional encounter first up on Court Philippe Chatrier where Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano lost 6-3 6-1 to 24th seed Jarmila Gajdosova only a week after the death of her fiance and coach, Stephane Vidal, from a brain tumour.

Vidal, 32, had urged Razzano, who wore a black ribbon in tribute, to play at Roland Garros, and she fought back tears as she said: “It took me a lot of courage to get on the court today. It’s painful. It’s hard.

“If I did it, it’s for Stephane. But also for me, because he wanted me to play. He wanted me to continue to go on with my life, even in these very painful circumstances.”

Australian Gajdosova has not had an easy time of it either after splitting from husband Sam Groth three weeks ago, and she admitted it had been a tough match to take part it.

“I know it wasn’t easy for me,” said the 24-year-old. “She’s probably in a much worse position than I was, but still I felt really bad. It’s very sad news.

“Either way it was going to be a tough match for me to first try and concentrate on what I have to do; and second, I was on the other side of a person that was very hurt.”