Sharapova wins on return from 6-month break

Maria Sharapova launched her comeback from a six-month injury layoff with a 7-6(8) 6-0 first round victory over Viktoria Kuzmova at the Mallorca Open grasscourt tournament on Tuesday.

The Russian five-times Grand Slam champion has been out since January with a right shoulder injury which required surgery.

She saved a couple of set-points in a tight opening set in blazing sunshine, but romped through the second in quick time.

It was her first competitive match since she withdrew from the St Petersburg Open in January, saying she needed to sort out the problem with her serving shoulder.

Apart from some double-faults in the opening set when she dropped serve to trail 5-6, there was nothing to suggest the 32-year-old was having any lingering problems from the right shoulder.

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It was a part of her body that has caused her problems for a decade.

She broke back immediately to force a tiebreak.

But she had to fend off a set-point at 6-7 and at 7-8 as the 21-year-old Kuzmova, ranked 39 places higher than Sharapova at 46, troubled the Russian with some big serves.

Sharapova, who took a wildcard for the tournament, snatched the opener on her second set-point as Kuzmova netted a forehand.

There was little resistance from Kuzmova in the second set as Sharapova set up a potential clash with top seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.