No. 4 seed, former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova of Russia completely crushed No. 144 ranked Jamie Hampton of the USA on Thursday in Melbourne, to advance to round three of the 2012 Australian Open.
The match lasted just 64 minutes, and Sharapova allowed Hampton only one game, taking the match 6-0, 6-1.
It was Sharapova’s first event of the season because of a lingering ankle injury.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008.
She will next face German Angelique Kerber, who defeated Canada’s Stephanie Dubois 7-5, 6-1.
