Melbourne, Jan 21 (IANS): World NO.2 Maria Sharapova had a narrow escape in the second round of the women's singles at the Australian Open tennis tournament against qualifier and fellow Russian Alexandra Panova here Wednesday, before winning 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
The No.2 seed was in complete control as she broke service to take the first set 6-1, in just 26 minutes, on centre court at the Rod Laver Arena.
But Panova broke in the first game of the second set and soon took a 2-0 lead. She broke again before eventually holding serve to take it 6-4.
Sharapova immediately lost serve at the start of the third set, and with the double faults and unforced errors mounting, she found herself trailing 1-4.
However, the 2008 Australian Open champion dug deep, saving two match points at 4-5 in the third to ultimately clinch a narrow victory.