World No.2 Maria Sharapova has saved two match points before escaping with a 6-1 4-6 7-5 second-round victory over little-known Russian compatriot Alexandra Pa nova at the Australian Open.

Pa nova led 4-1 in the final set and then held a pair of match points in the 10th game, both of which Sharapova saved with clean forehand winners.

Buoyed by that narrow escape, Sharapova steadied to win in two hours and 32 minutes.

25-year-old Pa nova had not even won a match at grand slam level until she beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea two days ago.

Sharapova twice double-faulted on break point in the second set and also struggled with her serve early in the decider before regaining the initiative in the nick of time.

Late-blooming Peng Shuai from China became the first player through to the third round.

The 21st seed trounced Magdalena Rybarikova from Slovakia 6-1 6-1 in the opening match on Wednesday on Hisense Arena.

The 28-year-old Peng recorded her best grand slam result at last year’s US Open when she advanced to the semi-finals before going down to former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki.

Russia’s Katrina Makarova, the No.10 seed, also won through to the third round at Melbourne Park with a minimum of fuss on Wednesday, beating Italian veteran Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4.

Czech No.22 seed Karolina Pliskova was made to work hard by Frenchwoman Oceana Do din before winning 7-5 5-7 6-4.