Sharapova insists passion undimmed

Maria Sharapova said her passion for tennis remained undimmed after serving a 6-0, 6-0 "double bagel" to Britain's Harriet Dart in the Australian Open first round on Monday.

The veteran fivetime Grand Slam winner, who has struggled with injury since returning from a doping ban in 2017, showed glimpses of her old ruthless self to dispatch Dart in just 63 minutes.

Dart left the court in tears but Sharapova was unapologetic when asked if she empathised with the young qualifier.

"There is no time for that, I'm sorry to say," she said. "(Not) when you're playing the first round of a Grand Slam."