Sharapova into 4th round at Aussie Open

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova got another taste of the elements, ignoring the saunalike conditions in Rod Laver Arena to advance to the second week of the Australian Open. While heavy rain prevented play on outside courts, the roof on center court was closed Saturday for Sharapova's 6-3, 6-1 third-round victory over 30th-seeded Tathiana Garbin.

The air conditioning wasn't working early and the players were already sweating profusely after their warmup, while spectators fanned themselves with programs.

"It was a little steamy in there ... humid," Sharapova said. "I've felt cozier in my life."

Sharapova has lost just seven games since her narrow escape against Camille Pin in a steamy first-round match.

"I guess I can say I'm still lucky to be in the tournament after my first round," Sharapova said. "It is only going to get tougher for me."

The U.S. Open champion played in searing temperatures in her opening win, saying the heat had made her delusional while she gave up a 5-0 lead in the third set.

At the same time, new matches on outside courts were delayed under the tournament's Extreme Heat Policy as temperatures headed above 100 degrees.

Her second-round win over Anastassia Rodionova was in cool and overcast conditions.


Against Garbin, Sharapova was broken in two of her first three service games. Then she found the range and was ripping winners — hitting the lines on three consecutive shots in one point — and allowed Garbin only one game the rest of the way.

"I thought I was a bit slow in the beginning of the match — didn't really adjust," she said. "I was letting her play her game a little too much.

"But I felt like as the match went on, I moved a lot better. I saw the short balls a lot quicker, put pressure on her."

Garbin certainly was putting in the effort, sprinting from sideline to sideline, earning loud applause as she raced from the left baseline to get to a Sharapova drop shot near the net on the right side and flicking a forehand winner down the line.

But she had only four other winners to go with 18 unforced errors and was looking increasingly dispirited as the match wore on.