Sharapova, Clijsters advance in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters advanced Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne despite temperatures topping 100 degrees.

After a 10-minute suspension in play because of the extreme heat, the top-seeded Sharapova scorched Camille Pin, 6-3, 4-6, 9-7.

Fourth-ranked Clijsters topped Vasilisa Bardina, 6-0, 6-0, and Martina Hingis blew past France's Nathalie Dechy, 6-0, 6-2.

Also winning first round matches were 12th-seeded Russian Ann Chakvetadze, India's Sania Mirza, Laura Granville of the United States and Russia's Anastassia Rodionova.