Maria Sharapova survived the intense challenge from Karin Knapp to advance to the third round of the Australian Open with a gruelling 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win in 3 hours, 28 minutes on Thursday.
The temperature was forecast to spike at 44°C on the third straight day of a heat wave. It was already 39°C when No. 3-seeded Sharapova’s match started and increased to 42.5°C, forcing organizers to enact the Extreme Heat Policy and suspend matches on outside courts.
Sharapova, playing her second tournament back from extended time off for a right shoulder injury.
