Down a set, a break, and 0-40 on her own serve, fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia had to dig deep to avoid being another early-round casualty at the Rogers Cup in Montreal Wednesday, prevailing over Garbine Muguruza of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

It was a shaky performance on serve for the Russian, double-faulting a total of nine times in the match (seven times in the first set and twice in the second) to erase her nine aces. Muguruza put up stiff resistance and at times garnered significant audience support, but the fightback from Sharapova was too strong, and she went out quickly in the third set 6-1.

In the earlier day match on centre court, Angelique Kerber of Germany dispatched Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-1. Elsewhere, Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Wozniacki, and Sabine Lisicki all advanced, while Domenica Cibulkova fell to Heather Watson in a tight three-set match.

Khoa Tran/ Front Page News