Sharapova grinds out win against McHale at Madrid Open

Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the No. 8 seed, beat American Christina McHale 61, 46, 64 to advance to the third round at the Madrid Open.

Sharapova, the finalist in Madrid last year, needed more than two hours to beat McHale.

The Russian rolled over McHale, the world No. 56, in the first set, but the American fought back and won her first set in four career matches against Sharapova in the second.

Sharapova’s next opponent will be Australia’s Samantha Stosur, who defeated Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza 75, 36, 61.

China’s Li Na beat countrywoman Jie Zheng 62, 63 to advance to the next round.

On the men’s side, Spain’s David Ferrer defeated countryman Albert Ramos 76 (86), 57, 63 in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

The win was the 571st in Ferrer’s career, tying him with Swedish great Mats Wilander.

Spain’s Nicolas Almagro beat Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev 63, 67 (79), 76 (74).

Almagro’s next opponent will be Britain’s Andy Murray, the No. 7 seed.

Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, will make his debut at the tournament on Wednesday against Argentina’s Juan Monaco.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer, meanwhile, said Tuesday he was skipping the Madrid Open to be with his wife, Mirka, who is about to give birth to the couple’s third child.

The Swiss great, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the world, is the second big name to drop out of the tournament.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the world No. 2, pulled out of the event due to a wrist injury.

The Mutua Madrid Open is one of the biggest claycourt events on the tennis calendar and a key tuneup for the French Open, which gets underway on May 25.