Sharapova steals show on Day Two of French Open

Back after a nine-month injury lay-off, former World No 1 Sharapova walks away with honours Day Two, even as Nadal and Federer advance

Sharapova steals show on Day Two of French Open

Back after a nine-month injury lay-off, former World No 1 Sharapova walks away with honours Day Two, even as Nadal and Federer advance

But the two great rivals were overshadowed by the eagerly-awaited Grand Slam return of Maria Sharapova, the world's highest-paid and most recognisable sportswoman.

Maria Sharapova, who is ranked at a lowly 102 after a nine-month absence to cure a shoulder injury, overcame Belarussian Anastasia Yakimova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and booked a last 64 date against compatriot Nadia Petrova.

The Russian golden girl, ranked at a lowly 102 after a nine-month absence to cure a shoulder injury, overcame Belarussian Anastasia Yakimova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and book a last 64 date against compatriot Nadia Petrova, the 11th seed.

Sharapova, a former Wimbledon, US and Australian Open champion, said her return feels like a second career has just begun.

"It's the first time in my life where I couldn't practice for such a long period of time," said Sharapova, who warmed up for the French Open by playing singles at the low-key Warsaw event last week.

"I think it was three months where I didn't touch a racquet. Everything about it was just bizarre. It was like some things were just taken away from your life."

Top seed and World No 1 Nadal, sporting a bright pink shirt, saw off plucky Brazilian qualifier Marcos Daniel 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 to take his career record here to 29 wins in 29 matches.

The 22-year-old has now gone past the previous best sequence he shared with former six-time champion Bjorn Borg, who had 28 straight victories between 1978 and 1981.

Nadal will next face Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili.

"The first match is always difficult. I was a little nervous because this tournament is very special to me, but I feel good," said Nadal, who arrived in Paris having lost his 33-match clay court-winning streak to Federer in Madrid.

Federer, who has lost the last three finals here to Nadal, overcame dropping his first service game to see off Spanish journeyman Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

The Swiss star, the holder of 13 Grand Slam titles, hit 10 aces and 38 winners in his win over the former French Open junior champion and next faces Argentina's Jose Acasuso.

"I started a little slowly," said Federer. "He plays very far behind the baseline so I had to make adjustments.
"Then I started to serve well. That allowed me to play more freely and I was able to dominate."

Other Round One results at Rolland Garros

Men: Teimuraz Gabashvili bt Igor Kunitsyn 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-1; Robin Soderling bt Kevin Kim 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2; Denis Istomin bt Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4); Nicolas Kiefer bt Ilija Bozoljac 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4; Nikolay Davydenko bt Stefan Koubek 6-2, 6-1, 6-4; Diego Junqueira bt Paul Capdeville 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3; Nicolas Massu bt Daniel Kollerer 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 6-3; Stanislas Wawrinka bt Nicolas Devilder 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Fernando Gonzalez bt Jiri Vanek 6-3, 6-2, 6-3; Andy Roddick bt Romain Jouan 6-2, 6-4, 6-2; Jurgen Melzer bt Sergio Roitman 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0; Guillaume Rufin bt Eduardo Schwank 6-1, 6-3, 6-3; Jeremy Chardy bt Thiago Alves 6-2, 7-6 6-3; Simone Bolelli bt Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3; Paul-Henri Mathieu bt Laurent Recouderc 6-4, 6-4, 6-1; Pablo Andu00fajar bt Robby Ginepri 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3); Jose Acasuso bt Santiago Ventura 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-0, 6-3; Ivo Minar bt Oscar Hernandez 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3; Igor Andreev bt Fabio Fognini 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

Women: Dinara Safina bt Anne Keothavong 6-0, 6-0, Polona Hercog bt Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Aravane Rezai bt Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-2; Michelle Larcher de Brito bt Melanie South 0-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5; Zheng Jie bt Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1, 6-3; Lucie Hradecka bt Yvonne Meusburger 6-1, 6-2; Carla Suarez bt Edina Gallovits 6-1, 6-4; Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Camille Pin 6-3, 5-7, 7-5; Venus Williams bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2; Lucie Safarova bt Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 1-6, 6-1; Agnes Szavay bt Corinna Dentoni 6-3, 6-4; Dominika Cibulkova bt Alona Bondarenko 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Kirsten Flipkens bt Stephanie Foretz 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; Maria Sharapova bt Anastasiya Yakimova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

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