Sharapova gets season off to good start in China

Former world No 1 Maria Sharapova defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets to reach the second round of the Shenzhen Open.

The Russian fifth seed recovered from 2-0 down with three successive service breaks to take the opening set 6-2 in 33 minutes.

However, as both players faltered on serve in the second set, Bacsinszky rallied to force a tie-break, which Sharapova took 7-3.

Sharapova will next face Chinese wild card Wang Xinyu after the 17-year-old beat compatriot Xun Fang Ying 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 13 from Belarus, also had to work for her place in the second round, coming from behind to beat German Tatjana Maria 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Second seed Caroline Garcia, however, is out after she was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Serbian qualifier Ivana Jorovic. There were also unexpected defeats for third seed Wang Qiang and seventh seed Zhang Shuai.

At the Brisbane International, Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell caused an upset on the opening day as the 20-year-old defeated seventh seed Daria Kasatkina 5-7 6-4 7-6 (3).

Birrell produced an impressive display to fight back from 5-3 down in the deciding set.

She said: “It still hasn’t really sunk in. I’m just really excited that I get to play again.”

British No 4 Harriet Dart battled past Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their first-round match.

On the men’s tour, fifth seed Milos Raonic got his 2019 campaign off to the perfect start with a straight-sets win over Aljaz Bedene at the Brisbane International.

The Canadian world No 18 coasted past the Slovenian 6-0 6-3 in just 48 minutes. Raonic, who won the ATP Brisbane title in 2016, will next face qualifier Miomir Kecmanovic.

The Serbian defeated Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-3, 6-1.

Sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov also booked his place in round two with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.