Tennis news - Maria Sharapova storms into third round with dismissal of Rebecca Peterson

ByCarrie Dunn

Updated 16/01/2019 at 15:17 GMT

Former Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova continued her marauding form by handing out a 6-2 6-1 thrashing to Sweden's Rebecca Peterson on Wednesday to set up a blockbuster third-round showdown with holder Caroline Wozniacki.

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In a clash of former world number one players, the five-times Grand Slam winner will next meet Dane Wozniacki, who eased past Johanna Larsson 6-1 6-3 earlier in the day.

Peterson made a bright start, holding to begin the match, but Sharapova's powerful ball striking - especially on the forehand - soon began to overwhelm her.

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The Russian stepped up the intensity and the footwork in the second set, allowing Peterson only a single hold of serve.

The match did not start until shortly before midnight due to a long-running men's encounter on the Margaret Court Arena, but Sharapova needed only around an hour to conclude the win.

"It's always a physical match," Sharapova told reporters of her third-seeded opponent looming in the next round, with Wozniakci having won her first Grand Slam here last year.

She gets a lot of balls back. A great retriever of the game. Just incredibly solid. Does a lot of things well. You kind of have to, to be number one in the world, to be a Grand Slam champion. I expect her to do all those things on Friday.

"I think the Grand Slam was the one trophy she was looking for. With determination she got there last year. She loves playing here, loves everything about this tournament. I certainly have a tough match ahead of me."

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