Sharapova survives first-round scare at Roland Garros

The Australian Open champion Sharapova cruised in the first set on Day 4 against 103rd-ranked fellow Russian Evgeniya Rodina, who ultimately pushed the three-time Grand Slam champion to a 6-1, 3-6, 8-6 decision amid windy conditions at Roland Garros. Sharapova was two points away from defeat, but fought off her compatriot to prevent herself from becoming the first top seed to lose in the first round here in the Open Era (1968).

"I was very close to losing this match," Sharapova said. "Not many things were working for me today after the first set."

Leading 5-4 in the third set, Rodina was two points away from the upset, but Sharapova won the next two points to hold her serve.

At 6-6 in the final stanza, Sharapova notched her first service break of the set to grab the lead, and she then served out the bout, winning the last three points of the match to advance.

"I had problems in every department of my game today, so I'll have to improve on every aspect of those things," a relieved Sharapova said.

Sharapova needs the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.

An upset did come when Aussie Casey Dellacqua grounded ninth-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli, of France, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2.

Seventh-seeded Elena Dementieva overcame fellow Russian Vera Dushevina 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-2, while 11th-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva zipped past helpless Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz 6-2, 6-1. Dementieva is a two-time Grand Slam runner-up, including an appearance in the final here four years ago.

A mild first-round upset came when Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak waltzed past 20th-seeded Austrian Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2 on the famed red clay here.

In other action involving seeds, No. 18 Italian Francesca Schiavone shut down American Jill Craybas 6-3, 6-2, No. 26 Italian Flavia Pennetta pasted Ukrainian Tatiana Perebiynis 6-3, 6-2 and No. 27 Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik subdued Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-4, 6-2.

The 2008 French Open winner will pocket more than $1.5 million.