Top seed Maria Sharapova was pushed to a third set for a second straight match in a 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over Bethanie Mattek on Friday. Sharapova displayed much of the poor timing and inconsistent shot execution that marred her first-round struggle against Evgeniya Rodina before finally prevailing over the American after three scrappy sets. But despite another below-par display, the Russian said she would be sticking to her winning formula. "I’m not a clay court specialist that’s going to stand 10 feet behind the baseline and retrieve balls back," said Sharapova, who needs a win here to complete a career grand slam.

"I’m going to stick to my guns and do what I do best. I’m also going to play patiently if I want to win matches, especially against physically challenging players that hit 10 balls back.

"If I feel tired then they’re feeling 20 times more tired, because they’re the one doing all the running."

In a match halted late on Thursday evening at 6-2 2-3 to the Russian, Sharapova was broken in game eight of the second and the world number 106 levelled the match.

But the Australian Open champion broke the Mattek serve three times in the final set, punching a backhand service return down the line for a winner on her first match point after two hours and three minutes.

Sharapova will play Italy’s 32nd seed Karin Knapp in the third round.