Sharapova battles past Babos

Maria Sharapova is through to the third round of the US Open after a tough, tense win over Timea Babos. The world No.146, who beat second seed Simona Halep in the opening round, needed two hours 19 minutes to down the Hungarian 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1.

Clearly fatigued from her Monday night exploits, it took time for Sharapova to settle into the game. Babos, meanwhile, was shooting from the hip. Twice she served for the opening set, and twice Sharapova found a way back in. Into the tiebreak and Babos was always in the ascendancy. A wild forehand on set point from the former No.1 was enough to hand the world No.59 the advantage.

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But if the win over Halep showed us anything, it’s that Sharapova is up for the fight.

The 2006 champion immediately hit back at the start of the second, breaking early. Babos’ resilience paid off, and in a topsy turvey set she reeled off three games before Sharapova responded in the same manner. A tense end to the second followed, before Sharapova was able to level the match.

Going into the decider and Sharapova again started the stronger, earning the early break. Babos got a game on the board, but the Russian had the momentum. With the crowd behind her, she went on a run of four straight games and booked her spot in the third round.

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“I just wanted to get it done today, and I did,” Sharapova said after the match. “It wasn’t my best tennis.

“I felt like it was a scrappy match but some of those days can be the best, when you get through and give yourself another chance.

“Every day that I have another chance to play out here at the US Open is a special day.”