What seemed like a dream draw-come-true, turned onto Maria Sharapova’s worst nightmare. In what seemed like ideal placement in the weakest quarter bracket in the year’s first Grand Slam event, the old or younger Maria Sharapova would have been licking her chops. Since her return to the tour from her shoulder injury, the 5’11” Russian beauty has been unable tom find her form.

A sparse competitive schedule and off-court distractions have taken a toll on the former Australian, Wimbledon and U.S Open champion. Renowned for her distracting grunts and sighs, it is now officially acceptable to acknowledge that Maria Sharapova’s bark is worse than her bite.

Pretty 22-year old country mate, Maria Kirilenko proved the point in a 3 hour 22 minute marathon match on the Rod Laver Center Court before 15,000 stunned fans.

The Australian Open is underway and Kirilenko kicked things off by using steady play, a change of pace and her quick feet to put away one of the tour’s stars.

Maria Sharapova will be packing her bags and leaving the continent. She will now have time to promote her Nike sponsor, with whom she just executed a $70 million endorsement deal. The little known and lightly regarded Kirilenko advanced to the 4th round here in 2008, when Sharapova championed the tournament.

Since then, Kirilenko had been ousted in either the first or second round in every major except for the 2009 U.S. Open. The victor did dispose of Sharapova two years ago in another upset and may have derived some confidence from that win. Maria, the winner, is one of those players in the lower quarter bracket that has struggled to come up with a big, career-altering win. But, she was ready for Sharapova.

She remained confident throughout the match (7-5 (4), 3-6, 6-4). Down 2-4 in the first set, she held before capturing a telling break. Sharapova is said to have worked on her serve in the off-season, but the competitive rust was all over the court. Her 77 unforced errors including 11 double faults typified her lack of preparation.

Her normally reliable backhand sprayed aimlessly. Kirilenko capitalized on the erratic play by extending points with speedy court coverage and by moving her opponent across the court. With 41 unforced errors of her own, she played her best when the match was on the line. Trailing 2-4 in the first set tiebreaker, Kirilenko ran off 5 straight points.

In the third set, Sharapova seemed to pick up some momentum by breaking at 5-4. Kirilenko shook off the loss and pressured the exhausted Sharapova, who seemed slow afoot and often out of position, to hit winners. This quarter of the draw is loaded with opportunities for a player who can get hot.The injured Dinara Safina won her first match but seems unlikely to survive a stern challenge.

Clijsters Game On!

Kim Clijsters has been around. Following the Kirilenko upset at the Rod Laver stadium, the Belgian did her best to get the tournament back on track. She disposed of 20-year old Canadian qualifier Valerie Tetrault in 50 minutes, winning 6-0, 6-4. In the 23-minute first set, Clijsters lost just four points. Perhaps more tellingly, Kim appears better conditioned than when she won the U.S. Open last year.

She is trim, moving well and has added some beef to her serve. She is also just what the women’s tour needs, a fast player. Averaging about 12 seconds between points, she is doing her part to put athleticism back in the game and remove the prima donna mindset that has plagued the tour for too long.

Playing in the ridiculously tough quarter bracket that features Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kusnetsova, Nadia Petrova, Yanina Wickmayer and 7 time Grand Slam Champion Justine Henin, there is no let up after a win. Instead, it is strap on those shoes and get ready for the next bash. If these competitors don’t kill each other along the way, the semi-finalist deserves to go all the way.

Kuznetsova Cruises

Looking ever bit the number 3 seed, Svetelana Kuznetosva made short work of Australian Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets (6-1, 6-2). Committing just 10 unforced errors and winning 87% o her first serves, the stocky two-time Grand Slam winner continued her dominance in matches she is supposed to win.

The flashy Anastasia may have enjoyed home court advantage but it did not show. On this day, the play-in was overmatched. On the outside courts, plat was hampered by windy, wet and cold conditions but Kuznetsova played with purpose. In the same quarter bracket as Clijsters, there is not time to rest. Kuznetsova makes very few errors and will be a tough out in a very competitive bracket.

Elena – Justine To Have A Go

Elena Dementieva moved effortlessly into the second round with an efficient thumping of fellow Russian Vera Dushevina (6-2,6-1) to set up the highly anticipated second round match with Belgium’s Justine Henin. Dementieva needed just 67 minutes to put aside the 22-year old upstart.

With just 16 unforced errors and 21 outright winners, Elena looked fit and ready to compete in this year’s event. Fast gaining the reputation as the “best player to have never won a Grand Slam” the 5th seed will have her hands full in the second round, where the unseeded Henin lies in waiting.

Justine, a finalist last week in Brisbane, played with confidence against another Belgian youngster, Kirsten Flipkens (6-4,6-3) in a 63 minute test. Henin looks very poised and fleet afoot as she seeks her 8th Grand Slam championship but first since returning from retirement.

The Dementieva-Henin second round pairing would be a welcome finals for many tournaments. The two players have similarities. They are both graceful and use classic form to strike winning baseline groundstrokes. The key to this match could well be Elena’s ability to utilize her new serve.

Unfortunately, she rarely loses a match she should win but also rarely wins the big, high profile matches. This second round contest will let us know right where Henin stands and if she is as good as she looks, although she struggled with an unusually high 22 unforced errors. After Day One, it is game on for the ladies in Melbourne.