Tennis: Top names romp but Sharapova struggles as heat takes toll

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2007

MELBOURNE (AFP) — Russian top seed Maria Sharapova has survived a massive scare in sapping heat at the Australian Open as other top names avoided the worst of the weather to make short work of their opponents. On a scorching Melbourne day with temperatures touching 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the women's top seed, who needed treatment for cramps, squeezed past unseeded Frenchwoman Camille Pin 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 in two hours 51 mins.

In contrast, fourth seed Kim Clijsters and sixth seed Martina Hingis were back in the locker room in under an hour and barely raised a sweat after the roofs were closed on the Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena. Men's second seed Rafael Nadal also progressed, taming big-serving Robert Kendrick of the United States, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2. It was a...