• Internazionali BNL d'Italia

Sharapova labours past McHale in Rome

Maria Sharapova is the defending champion in Rome © PA Photos

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Maria Sharapova kicked off the defence of her Internazionali BNL d'Italia title with a hard-fought win over Christina McHale on Tuesday.

The world No. 2 went down an early break to the American, but battled her way into the third round with a 7-5 7-5 win at the Foro Italico. Next up, Sharapova could face former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, who meets Spanish qualifier Silvia Soler-Espinosa for a place in round three.

The woman who beat Sharapova in last week's Madrid Open, Serena Williams, is also into round three after a routine victory over Galina Voskoboeva. Williams broke in the second game of the day's late match, adding another to clinch the first set. She then penetrated the Voskoboeva serve twice more en route to a 6-2 6-3 triumph.

Earlier on Tuesday, fourth seed Petra Kvitova scraped past Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5 6-4. It was a shaky performance from the Wimbledon champion but, despite eight double faults, the Czech progressed unscathed.

Meanwhile in the day's first round action, Venus Williams looked uncomfortable despite her 6-3 6-4 win over Simona Halep. Williams, who has never won the French Open singles title, looked awkward on the clay surface and served poorly, yet she still had too much for her rival.

The day's biggest faller was 11th seed Sabine Lisicki, who was beaten 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 by Marina Erakovic. Both players broke five times, but Erakovic held the edge in a match lasting nearly three hours.

Jelena Jankovic and Maria Kirilenko were two further seeds to fall at the first hurdle in Rome. Former world No. 1 Jankovic was edged out in a third-set tiebreak by Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3 4-6 7-6(4), while No. 16 seed Kirilenko bowed out in straight sets to home favourite Flavia Pennetta.

Dominika Cibulkova eased past qualifier Mirjana Lucic, while Sloane Stephens beat Anna Chakvetadze.

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