<p align="justify" class="title">Maria Sharapova said on Tuesday she was delighted to be back in the old routine after a trying 2017 as she sailed into the second round of the Australian Open.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">It was the Russian star's first match at Melbourne for two years, having tested positive for performance-enhancing meldonium in Australia in 2016 and only returning from a 15-month doping ban last April.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">She sealed a 6-1, 6-4 victory in style with an ace against Germany's Tatjana Maria in an hour and 18 minutes.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I felt like I have got a lot of things out of the way physically and emotionally and mentally last year," said Sharapova.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"(In 2017) there was a lot of firsts again for me, playing the first tournament, first Grand Slam, and just different feelings and what it would be routinely.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"But it felt pretty routine today, just really happy to be back here."</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">On paper this should have been a close match. Sharapova, who is climbing her way back up the tennis ladder following her ban, is ranked 48th with her German opponent one place higher.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">But the gulf in class and experience between Sharapova, who has won 36 singles titles, and the 30-year-old journeywoman yet to register a WTA title was evident from the opening exchanges.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The 2008 Australian Open champion hardly looked back after racing into a 2-0 lead, holding her own serve to love and then breaking the German three times with ease to take the first set 6-1 in 32 minutes.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"Look, I've got shivers," said Sharapova, pointing to her arm when asked on court how much being back in Melbourne meant to her.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I cherish these moments. I love it here," she added.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"It's been a couple of years and I wanted it to be really meaningful to me. But we know it's only going to get tougher."</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The German found her service range at the start of the second and briefly led 3-1 before the unseeded Russian cranked up the decibel meter and broke back with a flurry of forehand winners.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Sharapova broke again, closing out the win with a booming ace and a huge smile for the rapturous crowd on Margaret Court Arena.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"Look, I think confidence comes with time and with match play and putting yourself in situations where you're able to take those opportunities," she said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I know that nothing will be handed to me or anyone. You have to work for every point in a match. It's too far to tell.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I have expectations because of my previous results in my career But I'm also realistic, and the process of coming back takes time. I keep building and learning."</p>
<p align="justify" class="title">Maria Sharapova said on Tuesday she was delighted to be back in the old routine after a trying 2017 as she sailed into the second round of the Australian Open.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">It was the Russian star's first match at Melbourne for two years, having tested positive for performance-enhancing meldonium in Australia in 2016 and only returning from a 15-month doping ban last April.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">She sealed a 6-1, 6-4 victory in style with an ace against Germany's Tatjana Maria in an hour and 18 minutes.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I felt like I have got a lot of things out of the way physically and emotionally and mentally last year," said Sharapova.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"(In 2017) there was a lot of firsts again for me, playing the first tournament, first Grand Slam, and just different feelings and what it would be routinely.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"But it felt pretty routine today, just really happy to be back here."</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">On paper this should have been a close match. Sharapova, who is climbing her way back up the tennis ladder following her ban, is ranked 48th with her German opponent one place higher.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">But the gulf in class and experience between Sharapova, who has won 36 singles titles, and the 30-year-old journeywoman yet to register a WTA title was evident from the opening exchanges.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The 2008 Australian Open champion hardly looked back after racing into a 2-0 lead, holding her own serve to love and then breaking the German three times with ease to take the first set 6-1 in 32 minutes.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"Look, I've got shivers," said Sharapova, pointing to her arm when asked on court how much being back in Melbourne meant to her.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I cherish these moments. I love it here," she added.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"It's been a couple of years and I wanted it to be really meaningful to me. But we know it's only going to get tougher."</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The German found her service range at the start of the second and briefly led 3-1 before the unseeded Russian cranked up the decibel meter and broke back with a flurry of forehand winners.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Sharapova broke again, closing out the win with a booming ace and a huge smile for the rapturous crowd on Margaret Court Arena.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"Look, I think confidence comes with time and with match play and putting yourself in situations where you're able to take those opportunities," she said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I know that nothing will be handed to me or anyone. You have to work for every point in a match. It's too far to tell.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">"I have expectations because of my previous results in my career But I'm also realistic, and the process of coming back takes time. I keep building and learning."</p>