Maria Sharapova made a stylish return to the US Open when she walloped Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-0 to reach the second round on Tuesday.
Wearing a black outfit criss-crossed with silver strapping, which she described as being "inspired by the architecture of New York," the 2006 champion was in sparkling form under floodlights and gave Pironkova a dressing down in 73 minutes.
The Russian, who is working her way back into top form after taking nine months out with a shoulder injury, won seven games in a row to book a second-round encounter with either American wildcard Christina McHale or Slovenia's Polona Hercog.
"It's a privilege to play here and I'm excited to be playing any match after being gone for a year," Sharapova, seeded 29th, told the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"When you hear all the cheering, when you step on court, you realise what you really miss."
The Russian, against all odds, won the 2006 tournament beating heavyweights like Belgian Justine Henin and Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo along the way.
