Exhausted Sharapova hoping for quick pick-up

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) Top seed Maria Sharapova will hope to have her batteries fully recharged following a draining first-round victory when she faces Anastassia Rodionova in the second round of the Australian Open tomorrow.

The world number two needed extensive treatment after her three-hour epic against France's Camille Pin yesterday when she won through 9-7 in the third set after being two points away from defeat in searing 39 degree heat.

Sharapova holds a 2-0 career record against fellow Russian Rodionova, who has never won a set against the reigning U S Open champion.

Fourth seed Kim Clijsters continues her farewell tour with the opening match on Rod Laver Arena against Japan's Akiko Morigami.

The popular Belgian is retiring at the end of the season, but has been in inspired form, winning the Sydney International last week and handing out a double bagel to Russia's Vasilisa Bardina in the opening round.

Three-times former champion Martina Hingis faces a test of her grand slam credentials against Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva on Rod Laver Arena, while Serbian 13th seed Ana Ivanovic faces Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the third round.

Men's second seed Rafael Nadal features in the drawcard match in the evening session against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The Spaniard had concerns coming into the tournament when he withdrew from Sydney last week with a leg twinge, but he looked back to his brutal best in his opening-round match when he cast aside American Robert Kendrick in three sets.

British teenager Andy Murray was even more impressive in his first-round-dismissal of Spain's Alberto Martin, losing just one game, and he faces Spain's Fernando Verdasco, who won their only previous encounter in 2003.

Fifth seed James Blake faces fellow American Alex Kuznetsov for a place in the last 32, and 13th seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic is heavily fancied to end the run of Australia's Robert Smeets.

REUTERS SAM BS1603