Sharapova breezes through

Sharapova, who is the top seed in Berlin and will become world number one if she wins, took control from the start, pushing early to the net for winning returns.

Her match against the German, whose highest world ranking is 40, lasted just over an hour.

Earlier, French Open champion Anastasia Myskina [Images] became the highest seeded casualty, losing 6-2 1-6 6-4 to German wildcard Julia Schruff.

The Russian third seed, who had a bye into the second round, fought back after dropping the first set but was undone by too many unforced errors in the decider.

The 22-year-old Schruff, who is ranked more than 100 places below Myskina at 107, clinched the biggest win of her career to the delight of the home crowd.

"I feel very good, especially because I have won in Germany [Images]," Schruff said.

Although the defeat denied Myskina some match practice before this month's French Open, the Russian said she was not yet thinking about the defence of her grand slam crown.

Former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to struggle during a tight baseline battle to beat 22-year-old Czech Iveta Benesova 7-5 4-6 6-1.

Henin-Hardenne, ranked 15th in the world, was often stretched to deuce by the Czech left hander who put up a spirited fight but floundered in the final set of the first-round match.

Defending German Open champion Amelie Mauresmo of France [Images] made quick work of her opponent Anna Smashnova of Israel, winning 6-4 6-1 in their second round match and Belgium's Kim Clijsters [Images] moved through to the third round, beating Russia's [Images] Dinara Safin 7-5 6-2.

U.S. Open champion Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova [Images] also had a comfortable match, sweeping past Bulgaria's Magdalena Maleeva 6-2 6-1 to reach the third round.

The fourth seed now faces former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who defeated Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-1 6-3.

Former French Open champion Mary Pierce knocked out 10th seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 6-2 6-2.

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