Maria Sharapova overcame a second set scare to see of Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 in two hours and 13 minutes to move safely into the fourth round of the 2016 Australian Open. Sharapova will play Belinda Bencic next, who also overcame an early scare before seeing off Kateryna Bondarenko in the third round.
Sharapova Races Through Opening Set
Beginning the match on the front foot, Sharapova had no intentions of sticking around; she thumped the ball with great authority and maneuvering Davis from side-to-side, eventually hitting a winner or forcing an error out of her American counterpart. After exchanging a trio of holds, the world number five drew first blood as two loose forehand flew off of Davis' racquet, landing in the tramlines to secure Sharapova the early break. Now leading 3-1, the Russian consolidated the break at love and broke once more with some aggressive play, not letting the American dictate any rallies. With another break of serve, Sharapova opened up a sizeable 5-1 lead, and continued to steam roll on serve to take the opening set 6-1.
Davis Finds Her Game; Edges Sharapova in 77 Minute Second Set
After exchanging holds, Sharapova picked up right where she left off in the early stages of the second set, breaking in the third game at the sixth time of asking. But Davis, the world number 103 began to swing more freedom, using the pace that Sharapova sent at her to direct her shots beautifully. Shortly after getting broken, the American broke straight back and held to get her nose back in front, much to the delight of the Australian crowd. From there, the pair exchanged a couple of breaks before the next four games went with serve. Sharapova was just beginning to lose her rhythm and Davis seemed to play better as the second set progressed. In the crucial eleventh game, the Russian had her chances but the American had an answer to everything the five-time Grand Slam champion threw at her, eventually holding for 6-5. Serving to stay in the set, Sharapova held at love with a couple of aces to force a second set tiebreak.
Like many tiebreaks, the momentum of this seven-point shootout swayed back and forth, with both players earning and recovering a couple of mini-breaks. Leading 5-4 in the tiebreak, Davis had her chance to earn another mini-break as she pulled Sharapova all over the court but couldn’t finish the deal, missing a routine volley into the open court. Now tied at 5-all, Davis wasn't the only one who was tight; the Russian missed a simple drop shot and consequently gave Davis her first set point. Leading 6-5, the world number 103 made no mistake, converting her first opportunity to take the second set 7-6(5) as another error flew off of Sharapova's forehand - one of her liabilities in the second set. Beaming with confidence, Davis was just a set away from her biggest win to date. Could she close it out?
Sharapova Regroups in Emphatic Style; Delivers A Bagel in Decider
After taking a five-minute bathroom break, Sharapova came back to the court with a new mentality and game plan – one that worked to great effect in the opening set. After opening the decider with a hold at love, the former world number one was quick to claim the first break of the final set, one that she would go on to consolidate with relative ease. Sharapova didn’t stop there – continuing to move Davis from side to side and hitting with great depth to the American’s forehand (her weaker side). Not long thereafter, the Russian broke for a second time, and continued to steam roll on serve, holding to open up a sizeable 5-0 lead in the decider. The double break seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the American as Sharapova broke a dejected-looking Davis to seal the 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 victory.