Maria Sharapova overcame a slow start to beat Venezuela's Maria Vento-Kabchi 7-6 6-0 at the Pan Pacific Open on Wednesday.
It was the Russian's first match since losing to Serena Williams in last week's Australian Open semi-finals.


Sharapova received a bye into the second round in Tokyo and the Wimbledon champion struggled in the first set, dropping serve twice before taking control.



The second seed converted her fourth set point to take the tiebreak 7-3 with a crunching for...

Tomorrow Maria will play her second round match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo against Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela.

The match is the third match on Centre Court and the schedule begins at 11.00 local time (GMT+9). Maria has never played Vento-Kabchi before.

Good luck Maria!

Maria Sharapova will give top priority to the defence of her Wimbledon title this year after insisting the world number one ranking can wait.



"Being number one is not for this year, I don't think," Sharapova told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. "For this year, I would love to defend Wimbledon. It's what drives me."



"My main goal is to be number one in the world of course," added the Russian, who is playing at this week's Pan Pacific Open tournament in Tokyo.



...

Maria is second seed in the upcoming Toray Pan Pacific tournament in Tokyo and receives a bye in the first round.
In the second round Maria will play either Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela or a qualifier.

The first seed Maria is scheduled to meet is Elena Likhovtseva of Russia in the quarters.


Click here to see the full draw

QUESTION:
How did you let that one go?



MARIA SHARAPOVA:
No, I gave it all I had. You know, I played from my heart. You know, I didn't take my chances when I could. And that's what this game is about. If you don't take your chances, you lose.



QUESTION:
You played a lot of three-set matches in the tournament. You had energy fluctuations in the third set. What was left in your tank? Were you tired?



MARIA SHARAPOVA:
That...