MELBOURNE – Maria Sharapova, Angelique Kerber and Novak Djokovic ensured there were all kinds of successful comebacks on Day 2 of the Australian Open.
Six-time champion Djokovic and 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka returned from long injury layoffs with victories in their first matches since Wimbledon.
Sharapova barely missed a beat in her first match back at the Australian Open since a failed doping test in 2016 resulted in a 15-month ban from tennis.
One of just two former champions in the women’s draw, Sharapova recovered from an early break in the second set and closed out her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Tatjana Maria with an ace at Margaret Court Arena.
She celebrated by twirling, waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been back here – obviously I wanted to enjoy the moment,” the 2008 Australian Open champion and three-time runner-up said in an on-court TV interview. “It was really meaningful for me to be out here.”
Kerber, the 2016 champion, continued her resurgent run with a 6-0, 6-4 win over fellow German Anna-Lena Friedsam. It was extended her streak to 10 consecutive wins, including the Sydney International title last week – her first title since the 2016 US Open.
Her ranking slid into the 20s in 2017, but she’s coming back into the kind of form which makes her a title contender.
“I’m just enjoying it on court again,” Kerber said. “Something is going on with Australia and me. I love this country – I enjoy my stay, play my best tennis.”
Djokovic tweaked his service motion while recovering from an injured right elbow, and used it to good effect in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Donald Young, who saved four match points on his own serve but was out in the next game.