Australian Open 2013: Maria Sharapova eyes 2nd Melbourne title

Maria Sharapova admits she is desperate to hold the Australian Open trophy aloft once again after thrashing Olga Puchkova 6-0 6-0 in the first round.

The Russian took just 55 minutes to book her place in the next round, hitting six aces and seven winners in an emphatic victory over her compatriot.

Sharapova, who last won the title in 2008, will face Japan’s Misakl Doi next before a potential third-round clash against Venus Williams, who won the Australian Open crown 10 years ago.

The 25-year-old is focused on improving as the tournament progresses but refused to get carried away by the manner of her victory, despite completing a unique set of “double bagels” in every Grand Slam with Monday’s win.

“This [the Australian Open] was my third Grand Slam and what an amazing memory to be able to hold that trophy and I certainly hope I can repeat that,” said the reigning French Open champion.

She added: “I don’t think that [the double bagel feat] is very relative to anything. When you’re out there and playing, you’re just focusing on every point and every game and trying to win as many as you can – and today was just a good scoreline.

“You always want to improve on things and work on certain things that you feel will help you in the later rounds certainly towards the end of the second week. But overall I was happy with the way I started, considering I didn’t play any matches coming in.”