Sharapova survives scare

Stuttgart - Defending champion Maria Sharapova survived a first-round scare at the Porsche Grand Prix by defeating Lucie Safarova 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-6(2) on Tuesday.

The sixth-seeded Sharapova needed three hours, 24 minutes for her 100th clay victory, three days after her 27th birthday.

Sharapova, who is bidding to win the tournament for the third time in a row, next faces fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Latvian qualifier Diana Marcinkevica 6-3, 6-2.

Jelena Jankovic, the no. 5 seed, saved four match points to come back and claim a 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-3 win over German lucky loser Mona Barthel.

No 8 seed Sara Errani recovered from a double break down in the second set to defeat Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 for the Italian's first win in five visits to Stuttgart.

Also Tuesday, Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Italian qualifier Gioia Barbieri 6-2, 6-3 and another Russian, Alisa Kleybanova, defeated Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-4.

Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro defeated Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-4 and Roberta Vinci had a 6-3, 6-2 win over Annika Beck, ensuring the 20-year-old qualifier was the first German knocked out of the tournament.

Results from the day 2 of the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday:

Women's singles

1st round

Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Annika Beck (GER) 6-3, 6-2

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) 6-3, 6-2

Maria Sharapova (RUS x6) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE) 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2)

Carla Surez (ESP) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-0, 6-4

Sara Errani (ITA x8) bt Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) bt Mona Barthel (GER) 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3

Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-2, 6-4

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Gioia Barbieri (ITA) 6-2, 6-3