Shake it off Sharapova
Betting tips 
/ Andy Morris / 17 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
The Russian fourth seed’s only consolation is that her opponent in the first round, Argentina’s Gisela Dulko, has not played at all since the beginning of October.
Andy Morris suggests that Maria Sharapova will need to shake off the rust if she is to overcome a stern first test in the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Sharapova comes into the tournament having played only two matches since September because of injury.
She lost both of them -- to Samantha Stosur and Na Li -- so she is way short of recent form.
The Russian fourth seed's only consolation is that her opponent in the first round, Argentina's Gisela Dulko, has not played at all since the beginning of October.
With both players inactive for so long, it's not an easy one to call.
Sharapova has the edge in the all-time series, 2-1, but in their only meeting since 2005 Dulko beat her 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round at Wimbledon in 2009.
There are a number of other players without recent match experience, including Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams.
Hewitt suffered a toe injury in September and has only played four matches in 2012.
Roddick has played just two, at the Kooyong exhibition, heading into his first-round against Robin Haase.
Williams should have few problems overcoming 45th-ranked Austrian Tamira Paszek, despite her short build-up. The American has shown in the past that she can perform well with minimal preparation.
