Maria Sharapova has served 12 aces on her way to a three-set victory over Timea Babos in the second round of the US Open.
After dropping the first set, the five-time major champion got better and better as the match wore on to prevail 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-1 and become the first player to reach the third round.
Sharapova is playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since serving a 15-month doping suspension and backed up her win over world No.2 Simona Halep in the first round on Arthur Ashe Stadium with victory over 59th-ranked Hungarian Babos on the same court.
“I just wanted to get it done today, and I did,” Sharapova said. “It wasn’t my best tennis.
“I felt like it was a scrappy match but some of those days can be the best, when you get through and give yourself another chance.
“Every day that I have another chance to play out here at the US Open is a special day.”
Sharapova will be a big favourite to at least make it through one more round, with her next opponent being Sofia Kenin.
The world No.139 beat Sachia Vickery 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-0) in an all-American encounter.
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the fourth seed, saw off Katerina Siniakova 6-0 6-7(5-7) 6-3 in their first-round clash, while eighth-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova survived three match points in a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) victory over Marketa Vondrousova.
Tenth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska beat Petra Martic 6-4 7-6 (7-3) and Russian 17th seed Elena Vesnina defeated Anna Blinkova 6-1 6-3.
American CoCo Vandeweghe, the 20th seed, overwhlemed countrywomen Alison Riske 2-6 6-3 6-4, while China’s 27th-seeded Zhang Shuai beat Sabine Lisicki 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0.
Kristina Mladenovic, the 14th seed, slumped to a 6-3 6-2 defeat to Romanian Monica Niculescu.
Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina pulled away after a close first set to beat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 7-6 (7-2) 6-1.
Kaia Kanepi of Estonia fought back from a first-set bagel to account for Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone 0-6 6-4 6-2.
Others to advance to the second round were Kirsten Flipkens, Ana Bogdan, Tatjana Marie, Denisa Allertova, Nao Hibino, Ons Jabeur, Jennifer Brady and Nicole Gibbs.
