Maria Sharapova ended her four-match losing streak with victory in the first round of the Madrid Open on Sunday, and insisted she is determined to claw her way back to the top of her sport.
Sharapova has struggled since her return from a drugs ban and fell outside the world’s top 60 in recent months but she proved too good for Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu, winning 6-4 6-1 in 82 minutes.
Sharapova told a post-match press conference: “Do I want to be ranked 60, 70 in the world? No, I don’t.
Hola, Madrid! ?? Loved playing in front of you today ???? pic.twitter.com/JCGGTFtAfV
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) May 6, 2018
“Do I want to be losing in the first round? Absolutely not. That’s why I’m still here, because I’m not satisfied with those things.
“I keep looking and getting better and working on things, making adjustments and not being stubborn about things I believe will make me better.”
Another former world number one, Victoria Azarenka, earned her first victory on clay in more than two years as she swept aside Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-3 6-3 in another first round clash.
After more than 2 years, Victoria Azarenka is back to winning ways on clay!
Ousts Aleksandra Krunic 6-3, 6-3 to score first clay court victory since 2016 Madrid. Sets up #MMOPEN R2 clash with Karolina Pliskova.
— WTA Scores (@Scores_WTA) May 6, 2018
Top seed Simona Halep needed just 51 minutes to beat Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-1 6-0, nor was second seed Caroline Wozniacki unduly detained as she saw off Daria Gavrilova 6-3 6-1.
Third seed Garbine Muguruza beat Shuai Peng of China 6-4 6-1, and another former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova continued her recent good form with a 6-1 6-2 success against Laura Tsurenko.
Other winners on a busy Sunday of first round action included Sloane Stephens, Sam Stosur, Donna Vekic, Ashleigh Barty and Monica Puig.
