Melbourne, January 16:

A rash of errors and a broiling sun had top-seeded Maria Sharapova delusional, ailing and on the ropes. But the Russian lived up to her reputation beating France’s Camille Pin 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.

David Nalbandian grew stronger in the heat as Janko Tipsarevic wilted.Tipsarevic retired with heat exhaustion with Nalbandian leading 6-7 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-0, 2-1. Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean led Christophe Rochus 6-2, 4-1 when the Belgian retired.

Rafael Nadal overcame American Robert Kendrick 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-2; women’s No 4 Kim Clijsters downed Vasilisa Bardina 6-0, 6-0; and Martina Hingisbeat Nathalie Dechy of France

6-0, 6-2.James Blake ousted Spain’s Carlos Moya 7-6 (8), 6-2, 6-4. Britain’s Andy Murray needed only 69 minutes for a 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 rout of Spain’s Alberto Martin, who avoided the embarrassment of a shutout by holding his last service game at 0-5 in the third.

Robby Ginepri advanced in five sets over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro. World No 13 Tomas Berdych beat South Korea’s Lee Hyung-taik and No 31 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated Kevin Kim.

Winners on the women’s side included 12th-seeded Anna Chakvetadze and No 13 Ana Ivanovic, while No 32 Eleni Danilidou was ousted by Japan’s Aiko Nakamura and Sania Mirza of India defeated Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-3, 7-5.