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Madrid • Maria Sharapova rallied from a break down in the first set to beat Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 7-5, 6-2 Monday and reach the second round of the Madrid Open.
The second-seeded Russian said she was still adjusting to the altitude and changing weather conditions in Madrid after winning the title in Stuttgart last weekend. Madrid is 2,180 feet above sea level.
Sharapova said she was "really happy that I got that break back in the first set," and dominated the second.
In the men's event, 11th-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain advanced when Tobias Kamke of Germany retired injured after losing the first set 6-4.
The top-seeded players in the men's draw, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have a bye into the second round.