Tatiana Panova will be Maria's second round opponent in Beijing after Panova won through after Tina Pisnik retired injured. Maria has played her compatriot once before in Memphis earlier this year when Panova retired after Maria was 2-1 up in the first set.

Teenage Wimbledon sensation Maria Sharapova is to launch her own fragrance after signing a deal with the company that already makes perfumes for Paris Hilton and fashion label Guess?.