Third seed Maria Sharapova advanced to the second round of the Cellular South Cup in Memphis after defeating Spain's Conchita Martinez Granados 6-2,
6-2.

The Russian, who at 16 is the youngest player in the tournament, was playing against the Spaniard for the second time this year having defeated her in the first round of the Australian Open. And it was another trouble-free day for Sharapova, who needed just 55 minutes to book her place in the second round against fellow Russian Tatiana Panova.

"I think I played pretty well," said Sharapova after her first match in Memphis. "I was the one controlling the match and it was in my hands the whole time, but I thought I needed to improve a few things from the Australian Open, where I played her in the first round. But I think that for my first match, after being sick last week, I just did what I had to do."

Looking ahead to her second round match against Panova, she added: "I think it will be a tough match. I've never played her before so I'm very excited about it. Hopefully I can raise my game and that's what I want to do as the rounds go on."

In second round action, top seed Vera Zvonareva had to come from behind in the second set against Italy's Tathiana Garbin before moving through to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-5 victory, while American Amy Frazier also booked her place in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Alina Jidkova of Russia.

Elsewhere on day two, local favorite Carly Gullickson could not repeat her quarterfinal run last year as she went down 6-0, 6-0 to No. 7 seed Kristina Brandi, while Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson set up a second round meeting with defending champion Lisa Raymond after defeating Russian qualifier Galina Voskoboeva.