CHINA’S Wang Qiang entered the last 32 of the Australian Open for the first time at Melbourne Park on Thursday, beating Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-2, 6-3 in 58 minutes.

Meanwhile, former Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova continued her marauding form by handing out a 6-2 6-1 thrashing to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson on Thursday to set up a blockbuster third-round showdown with holder Caroline Wozniacki.

In a clash of former world number one players, the five-time Grand Slam winner will next meet Dane Wozniacki, who eased past Johanna Larsson 6-1 6-3 earlier in the day.

“It’s always a physical match,” Sharapova told reporters of her third-seeded opponent looming in the next round, with Wozniakci having won her first Grand Slam here last year.

(SD-Agencies)