Sharapova wins on comeback from injury

Every point mattered for Maria Sharapova in her competitive comeback from injury, even in a first-round match in the season-opening tournament.

Sharapova beat 74th-ranked Caroline Garcia of France 6-3, 6-0 on Monday, ripping forehand winners and nullifying her rival’s biggest weapon with consistently aggressive service returns.

She chased down balls to turn the tempo when she was behind in two games in the second set, and celebrated break points with triple fist pumps even when the result was well beyond doubt.

The four-time major winner played only one match following an early exit at Wimbledon last season due to a right shoulder injury.

She showed no signs of soreness in advancing to the second round at the Brisbane International, her only warm-up event for the Australian Open.

“It’s been four months … (so) it was a big step for me,” Sharapova said.

“It was a big step to come and a big step to play out there tonight.

“These matches are what I came here for, no matter the opponent or the situation, you know, they’re really priceless for me at this point, and extremely important.”

She will next play 17-year-old Australian qualifier Ashleigh Barty, who had 6-3, 7-5 win over 2012 Brisbane finalist Daniela Hantuchova.

Also advancing were fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic, who beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 7-6 (6), No. 5 Angelique Kerber, No. 8 Carla Suarez and No. 9 Dominika Cibulkova.

Sharapova’s boyfriend, fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-3 in the day’s last match on centre court.

The star on the men’s side is Roger Federer, who has been working with Stefan Edberg in preparation for the Australian Open.