Maria Sharapova was simply too strong for Christina McHale as the 2006 champion recorded a 6-2 6-1 victory at the US Open.
Russian loses just three games on her way to victory
Maria Sharapova was simply too strong for Christina McHale as the 2006 champion recorded a 6-2 6-1 victory at the US Open.
Sharapova, the 29th seed, brushed aside the 17-year-old in 73 minutes at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a third-round meeting with Melanie Oudin.
And having returned to action in May after 10 months out with a shoulder injury, Sharapova believes she is finally finding her best form.
"I feel like the belief in the game, the confidence, is coming back," said the 22-year-old Russian.
"I'm playing a lot better than I was when I first got back. In every match, I learned from each situation. That's certainly going to help me - if not here, then for the future, for next year.
"I think the one thing that I learned is when you find yourself in the middle of the match, your shot selection goes, well, haywire. And I think I've been able to get that back."
Tough
Despite impressing in her opening two rounds at Flushing Meadows, Sharapova insists she is expecting a tough test against Oudin, who earlier upset fourth seed Elena Dementieva.
"I saw the way Elena played. I thought she could have done a few things better," Sharapova said.
"When Melanie had to step it up, she certainly did. In times when she could have made errors, she came up with some really good shots.
"I mean, I've got a tough round ahead of me, also somebody that I've never played against before, someone that's going to come out, I'm sure she's going to swing and have nothing to lose. But I'm looking forward to that."
Sharapova's fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova also recorded a straight sets win to reach the third round.
The sixth seed, who won the US Open title in 2004 and is the current French Open champion, knocked out Latvia's Anastasija Sevatova 6-4 6-2.
