Maria Sharapova was taken to three sets by her American opponent Lauren Davis in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
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The 2008 champion was tested by the 22-year-old but she came through in a 6-1 6-7(5) 6-0 win.
The first set was fairly routine for Sharapova as she broke twice before taking the lead on the hard court, but it was a trickier affair in the second.
After Davis lost serve in the third game, she immediately broke back to draw level on 2-2 before breaking again to take the lead for the first time in the match.
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Sharapova responded with a break of her own but from then, neither player could be separated and a tie-break ensued.
It was Davis who came out on top as she won the breaker 7-5, but she struggled to keep the momentum as she crumbled in the third set.
The American did not win a single game in the decider and Sharapova wrapped up the set in just 31 minutes.
Danielle Joynson
