Sharapova, Halep open 2018 season with victory

Shenzhen Jan 1 (IANS) Maria Sharapova and top-ranked Simona Halep opened the 2018 season on a victorious note scoring straight-set wins at the Shenzhen Open on Monday.

Russian ace Sharapova eased to a 6-3 6-0 win over Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania with a powerful forehand winner while Romanian Halep advanced into the next round after a 6-4 6-1 victory over Nicole Gibbs of the US reports Xinhua news agency.

"It s my first victory this year as No.1 in the world so I m just happy and enjoying the time " said Halep who will play China s Duan Yingying in the next round.

Sharapova suffered from a slow start but recovered quickly to dominate her match.

"It s always nice to start off the year with a victory. Overall I thought besides a few breaks in the beginning I really stepped up and finished the match off well " Sharapova said.

Sharapova will play 2017 Shenzhen finalist Alison Riske of the US in the next round.

--IANS
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