Open: Raonic stumbles in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA— It was one and done for Milos Raonic at the Australian Open.

The 27-year-old Canadian star, seeded 22nd here as he tries to rebound from injuries that shortened his 2017 season, fell in four sets to Slovakian Lukas Lacko, 6-7 (5) 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Lacko is ranked 86th in the world.

It was the second straight loss for Raonic in his return. He lost to 18year-old Australian Alex De Minaur at the Brisbane International earlier this month, when he struggled with his serve and his movement.

But while Raonic fell, Maria Sharapova marked her return to Melcourne Park with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Germany’s Tatjana Maria in the first round.

The Russian was suspended from the tour for 15 months after testing positive for the drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

She returned to the tour last April, but didn’t contest her first Grand Slam event until the U.S. Open, where she reached the fourth round.

Sharapova, now ranked 48th, is one of two former Australian Open champions in the women’s field, alongside Angelique Kerber. Sharapova won the tournament in 2008 and has reached the final on three other occasions.

“I’ve got shivers,” Sharapova said of playing again at Melbourne Park. “I cherish these moments.”

Sharapova could next play 14thseeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, who beat the Russian at last year’s U.S. Open.

Kerber won her 10th match in a row to start the season, beating AnnaLena Friedsam 6-0, 6-4.