Sharapova just survives century heat wave

Sharapova: toughest of games to get to second round

Maria Sharapova survived being sucked into a maelstrom of misery at the Australian Open on Tuesday and security was beefed up to prevent a recurrence of the ethnic clashes that tainted the opening day of the grand slam.

Officials began to postpone matches as temperatures soared over 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Serbia's Ilia Bozoljac and Croatian Marin Cilic were scheduled to play a first-round match later on day two, prompting fears it could set the scene for a repeat of the ugly brawls that marred Melbourne Park on Monday.

Heavy security is expected around the outside court when the potential flashpoint match takes place after Serb and Croat thugs vowed to renew hostilities.

Top seed Sharapova could scarcely believe the scrap she had been drawn into in the scorching conditions and struggled to keep cool before finally taming France's Camille Pin 6-3 4-6 9-7 in just under three hours.

Sharapova, who let a 5-0 lead in the final set slip through her fingers, came within two points of becoming the first women's top seed to slink out of the tournament in the opening round since Romania's Virginia Ruzici in 1979.

"It was one of my toughest matches and not one of my best matches but I can only get better from here," Sharapova said in a courtside interview. "I just hope I can feel better."