Sharapova struggles to 2nd-round victory

Top-ranked Maria Sharapova opened her title defense in the Pacific Life Open with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Michaella Krajicek on Friday night in a second-round match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Sharapova, who had a first-round bye, had not played a match since straining her left hamstring in Tokyo in early February. The effects of the layoff were obvious in her 1-hour, 44-minute struggle against Krajicek, the 18-year-old sister of former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.

Sharapova had 10 double-faults and 50 unforced errors and lost service four times. She finally secured the win on her fourth match point when Krajicek's backhand from the baseline hit the top of the net and fell on her side of the court.

Sharapova, the 15th player to be No. 1 on the WTA Tour, improved to 9-2 on the year and will face Nathalie Dechy of France in the third round.