Maria Sharapova. Pic/AFP

Former world No.1s and ex-Australian Open champions Maria Sharapova of Russia and Angelique Kerber of Germany on Thursday eased past Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova and Croatia's Donna Vekic respectively to set up an intriguing match in the third round of the Australian Open. The 2008 champion Sharapova defeated Sevastova, who has never got past the 4th round in Melbourne, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), reports Efe.