Maria Sharapova returns to US Open with easy victory

Maria Sharapova came armed with her nerve and her serve Tuesday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Showing no evidence of an uncertain serve that has plagued her this summer, Sharapova dispatched Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-3, 6-0, in 73 minutes at the U.S. Open - 2009.




Sharapova missed the first five months of this season while recovering from last fall's shoulder surgery, and the 22-year-old Russian is seeded 29th. It is an unaccustomed place in the draw for the woman who was once ranked No. 1. Sharapova said she was particularly happy with how she attacked the match by moving forward. "It adds a little bit to my ground strokes," she said.

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