By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Maria Sharapova saved two match points to slip by qualifier Alexandra Panova in three sets on Day 3.
Photo Source: Getty
Maria Sharapova wrenched victory from the jaws of defeat on Day 3 in Melbourne, boldly brushing aside two match points in the third set to slip past an inspired Alexandra Panova, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
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“I’m just happy to get through,” the second seed said afterwards.
After falling behind 4-1 in the decider, Sharapova rallied back to close to 4-3. But Panova, a Russian qualifier ranked 150 in the world and with one career Grand Slam win to her name, confidently took the next game to put even more pressure on Sharapova.
Sharapova would hold easily in the next game, but she soon found herself facing a match point moments later.
It was at this time that the uncanny imperviousness of Sharapova shone through as the five-time major champion walloped a second serve offering for a clean winner to get to deuce. It was a gutsy play by Sharapova, who went for it all or nothing on the shot.
But the drama wouldn’t stop there as a Sharapova error put her match point down again on the next point.
Another courageous forehand winner, tucked just inside the sideline at a wide angle after a brief rally left Panova shaking her head as the score moved to deuce again.
Sharapova would close out the game shortly thereafter and proceed to take the next two, finishing off the feisty Panova on her second match point.
“I had a lot of challenges against me today but I’m just happy I got through,” said Sharapova. “I didn’t actually want to be out here for two and a half hours, but that’s the way it sometimes goes … even on days when you’re not playing your best it’s just good enough to go through, and that’s what I did today.”
Sharapova finished the day with 38 winners against 51 unforced errors, but she made the two winners that mattered most, when all the pressure was resting firmly on her broad shoulders. It was an impressive display of character and moxie that saw Sharapova through this battle and into the third round.
The Russian will face either Zarina Diyas or Anna Schmiedlova next.