The 2019 Australian Open opened to blistering Melbourne heat, and first to play on Rod Laver Arena was 2008 champion Maria Sharapova, seeded 30, against Great Britain qualifier Harriet Dart.
Sharapova served first, and committed the first error of the tournament. A big serve levelled things at 15-15. A backhand winner sealed the opening game for the Russian 1-0.
A strong return from Sharapova exposed the limitation of the Dart second serve, but the qualifier steadied with a forehand winner. Sharapova continued to punish the second delivery and broke serve 2-0.
Two Russian winners, one cross court, the other down the line, were interrupted by a double fault, but it was only a temporary stop on the way to a 3-0 lead.
Maria’s dominance extended into the fourth game, Harriet striking one winner in a lost cause. 4-0 and a spread of clean winners for Sharapova.
Taken to deuce, Sharapova disguised a drop shot perfectly and won the game on yet another Dart mistake.
5-0
A double fault from Dart and a Sharapova drop shot / lob combo gave the Russian two set points - the second was enough for a 6-0 white wash. The first serve percentage for Harriet needed vast improvement.
The Sharapova intimidation didn’t cease, and it took a double fault to slow it down. No problems, though, and a seventh successive game was registered.
Up 30-0, Dart let it slip with three straight errors, but luckily Sharapova hit the net for deuce. A British down the line winner was wasted with a follow up mistake, and Sharapova swallowed up the chance to break again and lead 2-0.
3-0 quickly.
Sadly, Harriet couldn’t trouble the scoreboard, even though she was more competitive in many of the second set rallies.
Maria Sharapova won 6-0 6-0.
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