Sharapova looks sharp in rout over McHale

NEW YORK – Maria Sharapova sat in her hotel room for most of the day and watched the upsets go down.

It was not the greatest feeling.

“You don’t want to be that person,” she said.

She wasn’t on Thursday, thanks to a focused effort from the start that resulted in a 6-2, 6-1 victory over 17-year-old American Christina McHale.

Next up for the 29th-seeded Russian, a meeting with another 17-year-old American, Melanie Oudin.

Oudin started the upset trend in Arthur Ashe Stadium by defeating No. 4 Elena Dementieva. A few hours later, No. 5 Jelena Jankovic lost on that court, too.

“I made sure from the beginning that I was really focused and concentrating on my job,” Sharapova said, when asked how she avoided the same trap.

Walking onto the show court with the same, glittery black-and-silver dress she wore in the first round, Sharapova traded early breaks with McHale, who lives across the Hudson River in New Jersey. But before the New York crowd could get behind the hometown girl, Sharapova snuffed out all hope.

She won 16 of 18 points during one period and was never in real danger.

She has lost a total of six games in two matches, and though she is still working herself into shape after missing nearly 10 months with a shoulder injury, she almost has to be considered a contender for her fourth major title and second at the US Open.

Dementieva and Jankovic were both on her side of the draw, as is No. 1 Dinara Safina, who has looked unimpressive in a pair of three-set victories.

The Williams sisters, meanwhile, are on the other side of the bracket.

But before thinking about that, Sharapova must focus on Oudin, who is ranked 70th, but now has Grand Slam wins over Dementieva and Jankovic on her resume.

They play on Saturday, and Oudin could be that rare player who hears more cheers from the crowd than Sharapova, long a fan favorite at Flushing Meadows and everywhere else.

“I thought she played great tennis,” Sharapova said of her next opponent. “To beat someone who’s been playing great all year long, and No. 4 in the world, it’s a darn good win. I expect to go out there and for her to play some of her best tennis.”  (AP)