Maria Sharapova has progressed through to the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets victory over Maria Kirilenko.
It was Kirilenko who began the all-Russian encounter on the front foot, taking four of the first six games against the fifth seed, but she couldn't continue that form for the rest of the match as Sharapova began to find her rhythm.
A scoreline of 6-4 6-0 was harsh on Kirilenko, who matched her opponent's aggression throughout the match, but Sharapova was fully deserving of her place in the next round.
Read below to see how the action unfolded on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the US Open first round match between Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko.
After being dazzled by the Opening Ceremony, it's the turn of Sharapova and Kirilenko to dazzle us under the lights on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two Russians have known each other since the age of 12 - despite their world rankings, this could be a lot closer than expected.
Many of you will be aware of the success of Sharapova but before we get started, let me bring you up-to-date regarding the plight of Kirilenko. She reached as high as 10 in the world rankings last June but injuries and loss of form have seen her plummet to 113. She also hasn't played since losing in the second round at Wimbledon so the odds are stacked against her, but, I don't know, I've got that feeling that she could test her compatriot tonight.
We are ready. The two players are ready. Are you ready? I hope so. It's Sharapova to serve first.
Sharapova opens up with a double fault before dumping a backhand into the net. Kirilenko quickly gets to 0-30 but she floats a backhand long on the next point. The number five seed proceeds to close the door on Kirilenko's chance of an early break to hold to 30.
It's an aggressive start from Sharapova, but would we really expect anything else? She has mixed joy from the back of the court but she still manages to bring up 30-30. The 2006 winner improves to create a couple of break-point opportunities in a lengthy game but it's a fine response from Kirilenko who manages to hold serve.
So far, Kirilenko doesn't look fazed by the challenge in front of her, but Sharapova holds in far more comfortable fashion than the first. Both players have started well.
Kirilenko opens with a couple of errors but she comes out on top in a gruelling exchange by sending a backhand volley into the open court. Sharapova starts to lose her range from the back of the court and Kirilenko holds to 30. Impressive from the former top-10 player.
BREAK! Kirilenko drills a stunning backhand winner down the line to take the opening point, but Sharapova begins to display her superior power to get to 30-15. What's been impressive from Kirilenko so far is that she is getting herself into most of the rallies and it's seemingly making Sharapova doubt herself. A double fault and a forehand error give Kirilenko break point and after she makes up a lot of ground at the back of the court, Sharapova blazes a forehand long and it's Kirilenko who strikes first!
Kirilenko is beginning to move Sharapova around the court effectively and the former champion is looking flustered. After getting to 30-0, the two Russians enjoy a stunning exchange that ends with Kirilenko putting a forehand into the corner for three game points. She doesn't convert the first though - instead, she miscues the ball into the stands where actor Alec Baldwin is waiting to take the catch! That mistake disrupts Kirilenko and a double fault allows Sharapova to get back to deuce, but after creating her fifth game point, Kirilenko delivers an absolute screamer of a forehand from the baseline to consolidate the break.
Sharapova starts the game with another double fault, but she regains her composure to put together four successive points to reduce the deficit to one.
BREAK! The decibel level of Sharapova's shrieks is getting higher by the point and the number five seed produces two forehand winners that fly past her opponent. Kirilenko then slices wide to get Sharapova three break-back points, but the first is saved with a well-directed forehand out wide. She can't save a second, though, and Sharapova is back on level terms after Kirilenko goes wide.
More ferocious hitting sees Sharapova take the opening point what an unbelievable response from Kirilenko! Sharapova smashes the ball into the corner but after Kirilenko produces a excellent backhand pass, she made ground at the net to put away a forehand. That is surely the point of the day. However, Sharapova comes through with a hold to 30 and Kirilenko will serve to remain in the first set.
SET! Kirilenko looks in full control at 40-15 but the world number 113 allows her compatriot back into the game, and after she makes an unforced error to give Sharapova a set point, the fifth seed capitalises on the opening with a drive volley at the net to take the first set after 53 minutes.
That wasn't a bad opening to the night session, huh? Kirilenko is where she is in the world rankings because she has hardly played any tournaments but on her day, she belongs in the top 20 at the very least.
Sharapova opens the second set with a hold to love and she is looking far more convincing than she did 30 minutes ago. She's taken the last five games, and Kirilenko needs to find a way of stopping the rot.
BREAK! Like in the final game of the first set, Kirilenko looks in control of the game but Sharapova fights back with a forehand winner from the baseline to gain a break point. It's a huge moment for Kirilenko, but she shows an incredible touch with a backhand drop shot that has Sharapova sprawling at the net. That touch soon deserts her though, and after a double fault, she dumps a backhand into the net to give Sharapova a clear advantage.
There is a sense that this match could quickly get away from Kirilenko but she is contesting every point to her maximum. Maybe the time away from the court has freshened her appetite for the game? A couple of winners off the backhand wing get her back to 40-30 but she nets a return to allow Sharapova to get to 3-0.
Kirilenko is currently receiving some treatment on her left foot. She doesn't look in any real discomfort but she is taking an official medical time out.
There wasn't really any doubt that she would, but Kirilenko is continuing and we are back on court.
BREAK! Sharapova looks like she senses blood here. She powers down a forehand winner on the way to reaching 15-40, and although she can't convert her first chance, Kirilenko slices long on the second to give Sharapova the double break. That's eight games in a row.
Three more commanding points takes Sharapova to the brink of the game, but a double fault gives Kirilenko a temporary reprieve. There's still no sign of Kirilenko wilting to any degree and she wins a lengthy rally with a cross-court forehand. Kirilenko manages to get back to deuce, but she doesn't have enough to stop her opponent moving to within one game of the second round.
MATCH! Two Kirilenko errors see Sharapova move to within two points of the match, but Kirilenko halves the deficit when Sharapova goes long. However, the fifth seed produces a fantastic forehand winner down the line to bring up two match point and when Kirilenko double faults, the 2006 winner can celebrate moving through to the second round.
It's a rather disappointing end for Kirilenko, who certainly didn't deserve to lose the last 10 games of that tennis match, but after a minor blip at the start of the all-Russian encounter, Sharapova was ruthless and she could be a force to be reckoned with in New York.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening! Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
