Tennis: Top seed Maria Sharapova battled into the second round of the Australian Open by recording a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 9-7 victory over Camille Pin today.
The 19-year-old began in impressive fashion and claimed the first set but was surprisingly pegged back by Pin in the second.
Sharapova looked on course to claim the match after opening a 5-0 lead in the deciding set but Pin won five straight games to level and then served for the match at 7-6.
But the world number 62 wasted the chance as she stood two points from a famous victory and Sharapova's class and power eventually came through after an epic third set on the Rod Laver Arena.
Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis had things a lot easier, with both recording empathic straight-sets victories.
Fourth seed Clijsters, who is set to retire at the end of the season, needed just 44 minutes to record a 6-0 6-0 triumph over Russia's Vasilisa Bardina.
Hingis dropped just two games in recording a 6-0 6-2 victory over Nathalie Dechy in 54 minutes.
Anna Chakvetadze also progressed into the second round after the 12th seed beat Sybille Bammer 6-4 7-5, while 13th seed Ana Ivanovic cruised to a 6-2 6-0 victory over American Vania King.
David Nalbandian progressed into the second round after opponent Janko Tipsarevic was forced to retire from an epic contest.
Nalbandian, the number eight seed, looked to be heading for an early exit after losing the opening sets 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and was trailing 5-2 in the third but fought back to clinch the set 7-6 (7-2).
Nalbandian took the contest to a decider after storming to a 6-0 triumph in the fourth before Tipsarevic was forced to retire at 1-2 in the fifth after three hours 19 minutes on court in the sweltering heat.
Second seed Rafael Nadal had no such problems. He eased into the second round of the Australian Open with an impressive 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2 victory over American Robert Kendrick.
After saving a set point in the opening tie-break, Nadal took command and won without ever dropping serve. The match on Rod Laver Arena was played under a closed roof due to the excessive heat.
Meanwhile, 13th seed Tomas Berdych also booked his place in the last 64 with a comfortable 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory over Hyung-Taik Lee, but American Robby Ginepri ended 32nd seed Nicolas Almagro's hopes, coming from behind to post a 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3 win. PA