Lindsay Davenport was not a big challenge to fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova who defeated her 6-1 6-3 in little over an hour.

Sharapova took the first set in just 26 minutes. The second set was much more competitive, but still Davenport couldn't find an answer to Sharapova's confident play and devastating form.

Everybody was disappointed that these two former world number ones had to meet as early as in the second round of the 2008 Australian Open. However, we must admit that the comeback mom Lindsay Davenport didn’t live up to the expectations, as we were expecting a much tougher battle and a continuation of her more than impressive comeback.

Davenport herself is not satisfied with her performance, but is still optimistic (and she should be!). "I know I can play better than I did here this week," said the former Australian Open champion. "I've got to figure out a way to play better again at the bigger tournaments."

Maria Sharapova will face fellow Russian Elena Vesnina in round three. (photo via Getty Images)

Until she showed up on court to play her first round match at the Australian Open we didn’t know for sure which dress Maria Sharapova would be wearing.

First, we were convinced it would be the brown dress called Nike Sharapova Australian Open Flora dress. But no! Daniela Hantuchova sported it at the last week’s tournament in Sydney, so we thought there was no way the Russian fashionista and last year's Australian Open runner-up would wear something non-exclusive at a Grand Slam.

Finally, the mystery is resolved — Sharapova is wearing that same dress, but the color is different. Good enough.

BTW: In the first round, fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova defeated Croatia’s Jelena Kostanic Tosic 6-4 6-3, and will next play Lindsay Davenport, who has just climbed to the top of the list of the highest earners in women’s sport. (via Tennis Served Fresh)

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications has signed an exclusive four year sponsorship agreement with Maria Sharapova, who will become the company’s first global brand ambassador.

Not only will the Russian fashionista undertake a series of innovative new consumer brand campaigns, but she will also be working with Sony Ericsson’s design team on a range of products and accessories. I believe in Sharapova’s taste and I’m waiting for some really nice things to come out.

Dee Dutta, Corporate Vice President and Head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson, said: "Maria’s iconic status, determination, dynamism, success and charm match strongly with the Sony Ericsson brand, which prides itself on innovative and cool design with substance."

Maria Sharapova added: "Even though most people know me as a tennis player, I have so many passions beyond the sport like fashion, music, film and design; which Sony Ericsson and I are going to be exploring together through our partnership."

The off-court agreement with the tennis superstar confirms Sony Ericsson’s great interest in women's tennis, as the company already has a 6 year $88 million sponsorship deal with the WTA Tour. That deal was signed in January 2005 and is the biggest in the history of women’s sport. (via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog, photo via Maria Sharapova's site)

What? This was supposed to be Maria Sharapova’s Australian Open outfit! Even though the dress is called Nike Sharapova Australian Open Flora dress, slender Daniela Hantuchova is the one working it these days at the Medibank International in Sydney.

I'm confused now. Will both of them wear it at the Australian Open?

The outfit fits Maria’s style, but if I were Hantuchova I would have opted for something completely different. And, even though I admire both the design and color of the dress, I find the sweat marks totally unflattering. (via Down the Line)

It’s always worth taking a look at the fashion choices of Russian fashionista Maria Sharapova who always introduces something completely new and impressive (check out my retrospection of her 2007 outfits). For the 2008 Australian Open Sharapova opted for the two khaki dresses.

The one with white top part will probably be her Australian Open day dress. For night matches, Sharapova will be wearing the dress with long center pleating in the front and back, pleating at the hem and a hint of a white slip underneath. Seems Sharapova is continuing the classy style of her Sony Ericsson Championships outfit, and I love it. Out of the two, I prefer the night dress because it’s much more unique, and has really interesting details. The photos are after the cut. Read more »