A ruthless Maria Sharapova dished out a double bagel in her Australian Open return.
The former world No. 1 obliterated Harriet Dart, 6-0, 6-0, reducing the 22-year-old British qualifier to tears with the result.
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Asked afterward if she felt sympathy for her opponent, Sharapova suggested major matches are no time to throw pity parties.
"I mean, there is no time for that, I’m sorry to say," Sharapova told the media in Melbourne. "But when you’re playing the first round of a Grand Slam—I have been in many positions, last year Wimbledon came out against a qualifier that played really well.
"You know, there is no doubt that my level wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but she was there to take the match. So I'm not so much worried about my opponent, but I have to step up when the time is right and when I need to so that's my main goal."
Despite seven double faults, Sharapova faced only one break point.
The five-time Grand Slam champion destroyed Dart's second serve, winning 13 of 17 points played on the Brit's second delivery and breaking six times.
The 30th-seeded Russian will play 62nd-seeded Swede Rebecca Peterson in round two. The 23-year-old from Stockholm swept Sorana Cirstea, 6-4, 6-1.
Should Sharapova reach round three she could face reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki for a spot in the round of 16.
That match could carry the subtext of a grudge match as Sharapova's long-time agent, Max Eisenbud, famously slammed Wozniacki and the now-retired Agnieszka Radwanska as "journeymen players" after they voiced displeasure over tournaments awarding Sharapova wild cards following her return from a doping ban.
Wozniacki, who called the agent out for those remarks, has since said Eisenbud has yet to apologize to her in person.
The 2008 tournament champion isn't looking that far ahead.
For now, the 31-year-old Sharapova, who was crushed in Shenzhen by Aryna Sabalenka, is focusing on getting more match play and tending to her tender serving shoulder.
"Obviously, the shoulder, hasn't been that much of a secret in the past year that's something I've been struggling with," Sharapova said. "And I had to shut down the season after the US Open. Still not where I want it to be, still working through some painful days.
"But I felt like I did all the right things today to get through that match."
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve