No. 14 Maria Sharapova defeats Jarmila Groth
2006 U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova is one of the favorites at this year's tournament. (Aug. 15, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Jelena Jankovic wasn't the only top seeded woman to get a scare in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Maria Sharapova was pushed hard by Jarmila Groth of Australia in what looked like a possible first round upset.
"I think she came out today and really swung and didn't give me much time to do anything out there. She served really well in the first set. I wasn't returning that well, giving her a lot of looks, you know, on second serves," Sharapova said.
Sharapova battled back after a tough first set 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sharapova won the U.S. Open in 2006 when she defeated Justine Henin. She will now face the Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova.
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