Maria Sharapova beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in an all-Russian match on Monday to advance to the third round at the Madrid Open.
The eighth-seeded Sharapova broke Makarova three times and dropped serve only once in the match.
“I lost some focus but it was important to let that go and concentrate on taking my opportunities in the third set,” said Sharapova, whose most recent title was at Strasbourg in May last year.
Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced by easing past Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson 6-1, 6-1, while No. 2 Vera Zvonareva overcame a miserable start to beat fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 0-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In first-round play, sixth-seeded Li Na of China ousted Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (6) and Alisa Kleybanova of Russia provided the first upset by defeating ninth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-2.
On the men’s side, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick was dumped out in the first round of the Madrid Masters, upset 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 by qualifier Flavio Cipolla.
The American 12th seed, who lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals two years ago on his most recent appearance at the clay event, had his serve broken four times by the Italian ranked 148 places below him at number 160.
Roddick’s friend and compatriot Mardy Fish, the 12th seed, was also eliminated in the first round, losing 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 to fellow American John Isner.
Qualifier Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands fought back to beat former world No. 1 one and wild card Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, while ninth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils defeated big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-6.
Current world No. 1 and top seed Rafael Nadal, who has a bye into the second round, will play Marcos Baghdatis after the former Australian Open finalist edged past Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the second and third seeds, also play their opening matches today.
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