Maria hits the court running on comeback,enters Rd 2

I was pretty sick of the off-season and I was ready to get going, a beaming Sharapova said on court.

Maria Sharapova returned after four months out injured with a completely dominant 6-3 6-0 victory over France’s Caroline Garcia in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Monday.

The world number four showed no signs of the shoulder injury which has kept her off court since the Western and Southern Open in August as she raced into the second round in 64 minutes on Pat Rafter arena.

I was pretty sick of the off-season and I was ready to get going, a beaming Sharapova said on court.

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I missed the game,I wanted to come out here and really perform well and I tried to do that.

Clearly frustrated after so long without any competitive action,the 26-year-old Russian came out firing on all cylinders and raced to a 3-0 lead against her 74th ranked opponent.

The four-times major champion,watched by her new coach Sven Groeneveld,ruthlessly dismantled the big serve that has created excitement around the 20-year-old Garcia.

Sharapova wrapped up the first set with a blistering forehand winner after 39 minutes and two further service breaks later was 4-0 up in the second.

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With the momentum all on her side of the court and Garcia shaking her head at the quality of some of the returns coming back over the net,Sharapova grabbed another break and sealed the victory on her own serve with a forearm smash.

The third seed will undoubtedly have the majority of the crowd against her in her second round match when she plays Australian teenager Ash Barty,who earlier beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 7-5.

Serena rivalry is good

Victoria Azarenka thinks her rivalry with Serena Williams is making her a better player and is looking forward to renewing it over the next four weeks at the Brisbane International and the Australian Open. World number two behind the 17-times major champion,Azarenka will only meet Williams if both players make the final at the Pat Rafter arena next weekend and Melbourne Park on January 25.

The Belarussian,who has won the Australian Open for the last two years,has a 3-13 record against Williams but split last year’s four matches and beat the American 7-5 6-3 in an exhibition match in Thailand at the weekend.

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I think it’s great,first of all,to be a part of that rivalry because it really helps you to grow as a player,as a person, the 24-year-old said. You learn things about yourself and what you need to improve,because when somebody is taking you to the limit you really have a good look at what you have to do better to rise up.

I definitely enjoy that and love tough competition. To take that challenge for me every time is very exciting. That’s what I wake up for and train hard for.

Cilic advances

In the men’s draw,Croatian Marin Cilic came from behind to beat Uzbek Denis Istomin 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-4 and American Sam Querrey upset Russian seventh seed Dmitry Tursunov 7-5 6-4.

Jarkko Nieminen earlier thrashed James Duckworth 6-2 6-3 to earn the dubious pleasure of a second round meeting with top seed Roger Federer.