U.S. OPEN: ; Sharapova makes shining return to Flushing Meadow

NEW YORK - Maria Sharapova was right where she likes to be: onthe Grand Slam stage and in the spotlight.

After missing last year's U.S. Open with a shoulder injury, the2006 champion returned to the tournament Tuesday night with animpressive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Sharapova's game was as glittery as her black-and-silver dressand matching headwrap.

Several hours after Dinara Safina came perilously close tobecoming the first No. 1-seeded woman to lose in this majortournament's first round, Sharapova gave a much strongerperformance.

The three-time Grand Slam title winner produced 29 winners - awhopping 23 more than her 98th-ranked opponent. And Sharapova's gamewas particularly clean in the second set, when she hit 16 winnersand only five unforced errors.

Apart from four double-faults, Sharapova showed no signs of theshoulder tear that forced her to have surgery in October and keptoff the tour for nearly 10 months.

"This is a Grand Slam. You've got to get going from the firstmatch," Sharapova said. "After being gone, this is what it's allabout."

In addition to tennis skills and grit that once placed her No. 1in the rankings, Sharapova always has placed an emphasis on fashion.On this night, her black dress carried bold, metallic accents thatwould gain her entry into even the trendiest of New York clubs. Shepaired it with a matching, '60s-style silver headband.

Safina's coach certainly did not appear to like what he saw.

Sitting in the stands at the U.S. Open, he'd cover his eyes withhis hands or turn his head with a wince as Safina's 11 double-faults and all manner of other mistakes mounted - or put anotherway, as she looked less and less like a woman who is ranked No. 1.

There's been some debate this season about whether Safinadeserves that standing, one spot ahead of Serena Williams. TheRussian did not bolster her case Tuesday.

Nearly undone by her own poor play, Safina was a point away froma 4-0 deficit in the third set before coming back to beat 167th-ranked Olivia Rogowska of Australia 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.

Safina, younger sister of 2000 U.S. Open champion Marat Safin, isused to faring well in the early stages of Grand Slam tournaments.Usually, it's later on that problems arise: She is 0-3 in majorfinals, all lopsided losses.