Sharapova wins 1st-round match at ASB Classic

Published January 3, 2011 1:38am EST | Updated November 20, 2014 6:16pm EST

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Russian star Maria Sharapova beat Italy's Alberta Brianti 6-2, 6-3 on Monday to advance to the second round in the ASB Classic.

Sharapova was scheduled to play Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, but fifth-seeded Anastasija Sevastova's late withdrawal because of illness led to a reshuffle of the draw.

Brianti entered the main draw as a lucky loser after falling the final round of qualifying for the Australian Open tuneup event.