Top seed Maria Sharapova began her defense of the Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo on Thursday with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win over American qualifier Lisa Raymond.
Maria Sharapova stretches for a shot during her second-round match against Lisa Raymond at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
The World No. 4, who received a first-round bye, was slow out of the blocks in her first match, going 3-1 down in the opening set before recovering. The Russian then took advantage of her first match point with a whipped backhand pass to move to the quarterfinals.