Sharapova through after second-set lapse

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) Maria Sharapova was given a brief scare on her way to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva in the French Open third round today.

The second seeded Russian had her serve broken three times in the second set to fall 4-1 behind before the 20-year-old rattled off five games in a row to take the match.

Sharapova, who returned recently from a right shoulder injury, started well enough against a player making her main draw debut at Roland Garros, taking the opening set in 28 minutes.

A string of double faults and wild groundstrokes threw her off course in the second set as 19-year-old Kudryavtseva threatened to extend the two-times grand slam champion into a third set.

REUTERS BJR ND1632