Monica Seles, the 1992 champion at Indian Wells, Calif., began her bid for another title in a 6-0, 6-2 victory Thursday over 14-year-old Maria Sharapova.
The fourth-seeded Seles, 28, raced through the first set in 23 minutes of the second-round match in the Pacific Life Open.
Earlier in the day sixth-seeded Meghann Shaughnessy beat Martina Muller 6-2, 6-4.
Muller, ranked 13th in the world, hadn’t played on the tour since losing to Nicole Pratt in the second round of the Australian Open in mid-January.
Shaughnessy also took time off after the Australian Open, returning to play in Scottsdale, Ariz., last week.
– Wayne Ferreira surprised third-seeded Pete Sampras 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the Franklin Templeton Classic at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Earlier, seventh-seeded Xavier Malisse advanced with a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Andrea Gaudenzi in a match that took 1 hour 45 minutes.
– Fifth-seeded Davide Sanguinetti, who won his first career title in February, beat Kristian Pless 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the International Championships at Delray Beach, Fla.
