Melbourne: Maria Sharapova hailed her mental strength after saving two match points on the way to a dramatic victory over unheralded fellow Russian Alexandra Panova at the Australian Open.


Maria Sharapova serves during her match against Alexandra Panova in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP 

Qualifier Panova, ranked 150th in the world, looked to be on her way to a stunning upset at the expense of the number two seed when she served for the second-round match at 5-4 in the deciding set.