HONG KONG: Russian sensation Maria Sharapova began her run up to the Australian Open with a less than convincing victory over China's Yan Zi in the first round of a Hong Kong invitational on Thursday.

The world number two overcame a tough start to defeat the Wimbledon and Australian Open doubles champion 7-5, 6-3 in a 92-minute slugfest marked by the tenacity of the young Chinese player.

Sharapova broke early in the first set to take a commanding 4-1 lead before Yan battled back, breaking the Russian's serve twice to almost force a tie-break.

But the US Open champion drew on her superior strength to claw back in a thrilling ten-minute game to take the first set.

Yan, 22, never got back into the match and despite breaking Sharapova one more time, in the second set, was unable to match her powerful ground strokes. Eight of the world's top women's tennis players are in Hong Kong. The final will be played on Saturday.—AFP