Sport

Maria Sharapova demonstrates fighting qualities

The Russian is battling to hold on to her Top 10 spot in the world rankings as she builds on success in Stuttgart a fortnight ago

Maria Sharapova in action against Christina McHale of the United States in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Maria Sharapova in action against Christina McHale of the United States in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Tue May 06 2014 - 17:40

Maria Sharapova staged a late fightback to keep her winning streak on clay going in Madrid.

The eighth seed won the title in Stuttgart two weeks ago but looked in real trouble at 4-1 down in the deciding set in her second-round encounter against American Christina McHale at the Mutua Madrid Open.

An early exit would have been costly for Sharapova, who made the final last year and is battling to hold on to her top-10 spot in the world rankings.

But the Russian recovered just in time with a run of five straight games to win 6-1 4-6 6-4.

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Sharapova told reporters: “After a really good start I didn’t keep that level. I didn’t keep doing what I was doing. I think I had a bit of a let-down.

“She’s a good competitor. She won’t just give matches away. She works really hard out there, and I think she showed that today.”

In the third round Sharapova will meet former US Open champion Sam Stosur, who defeated Spain's Garbine Muguruza 7-5 3-6 6-1.

Australian Open champion Li Na saw off Chinese compatriot Zheng Jie 6-2 6-3 while 16th seed Sloane Stephens, who has found wins hard to come by recently, battled to a 6-4 2-6 6-3 victory over qualifier Petra Cetkovska.

In the men's tournament, Fabio Fognini could be in trouble with the ATP after a bad-tempered loss to Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round.

The 13th seed, who has been one of the form players of the season, became involved in a spat with umpire Mohamed Lahyani over a disputed line call in the third set.

Fognini told Lahyani, one of the most respected umpires on the circuit, he would be “in trouble” if he went on to lose the match.

And, after Dolgopolov clinched a 7-5 4-6 6-3 victory, Fognini could be heard to say to the umpire: “Come now, I want to see you. Don’t be scared.”

Tommy Haas, seeded 14th, also exited the tournament after a 3-6 6-1 6-4 defeat by Igor Sijsling but there were wins for Ernests Gulbis, Marin Cilic, Kevin Anderson and Juan Monaco.

Monaco will be Rafael Nadal's first opponent while Spain's Nicolas Almagro set up a second-round meeting with Andy Murray thanks to an unconvincing 6-3 6-7 (9/11) 7-6 (7/4) win over Andrey Golubev.

Fifth seed David Ferrer also needed three sets in a 7-6 (8/6) 5-7 6-3 win over fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos.