Maria Sharapova took precisely 70 minutes to make a winning start to the grass-court season when she swept aside the challenge of St?phanie Dubois in straight sets at the AEGON Classic in Birmingham yesterday.
In conditions more familiar to her native Siberia, Sharapova stepped out in her latest designer outfit to combat the cold: an elegant all-green, three-quarter top over her dress with matching leggings. Out of action for most of this year because of shoulder surgery, the Russian, now ranked No 73 in the world, won 6-4, 6-2 and said that she was delighted to be playing again. “I don’t have any expectations,” she said. “These tournaments are a good test mentally and physically and the match was a great workout.”
Neither would the 22-year-old comment on remarks made by Martina Navratilova, the winner of 59 grand-slam titles, who believes grunting, screeching, shrieking or “whatever you call it” is cheating. Sharapova said: “I’m not going to be drawn into any drama.” The 2004 Wimbledon champion let her tennis do the talking with her powerful, accurate ground strokes proving too much for her Canadian opponent.
There were encouraging results for the British contingent with Naomi Cavaday holding her nerve to beat Julie Ditty 6-2, 7-6. The 20-year-old from Kent capitalised on an error-strewn display by the American. “It got a bit nervy at the end but I closed it out,” a thrilled Cavaday said.
In the two all-British clashes, Mel South beat Katie O’Brien 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 in a hard-fought battle in which both players spurned chances to win and Elena Baltacha booked her place in the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Georgie Stoop.
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After months of speculation about the future of the tournament, the LTA has confirmed that it has reopened talks with Birmingham City Council and Edgbaston Priory Club. Local fans hope that it will be good news when the 2010 venue is announced after the Wimbledon Championships.