Maria Sharapova and Taylor Dent see tennis from new perspective after time on sideline

2 cathartic comebacks stay on track at US Open

NEW YORK — They come from opposite ends of the spectrum — one a former champion and current superstar, the other still searching for his big moment.

Both know what it’s like to have tennis taken away.

Maria Sharapova and Taylor Dent each made winning returns to the U.S. Open on Tuesday, coming back from injuries that sent them to the sidelines and made them appreciate the game that much more.

The 29th-seeded Sharapova, who missed nearly 10 months with a shoulder injury, defeated Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 6-3, 6-0 in front of thousands in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The unseeded Dent, coming back from debilitating back injuries that could have ended his career, upset Feliciano Lopez of Spain 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, 7-5 in front of hundreds on Court 11.

“I was told by the doctors that this was not realistic,” said Dent, ranked 195th in the world.

But after his first win at a Grand Slam tournament since 2005, an upset over a player ranked 158 spots higher than him, anything seems possible — for one day, at least.

“The only word to describe it is ‘elation,’” said Dent, who was bedridden two years ago, in need of delicate operations to heal broken vertebra.

Sharapova’s injury wasn’t nearly as dire, but she needed surgery for a torn rotator cuff and now finds herself an underdog in a sport she owned not so long ago.

She is a three-time Grand Slam tournament winner, the 2006 champion at Flushing Meadows and, counting endorsements, the highest-grossing female athlete in the world.

Not surprisingly, she made a fashion statement for her return to the spotlight, wearing a silver-and-black dress that she said was a tribute to the New York City skyline.

“It’s inspired by the architecture of New York — the silver, the glitz,” she said.

Her play was every bit as sparkly and she won her match easily, finishing with 29 winners compared to only six for Pironkova.

There was no taking this match, or this opponent, lightly, even if Pironkova was ranked only 98th.

“This is a Grand Slam. You’ve got to get going from the first match,” Sharapova said. “It’s a privilege to be playing any player out here. I’m more than excited to have the opportunity to play any match. After being gone, this is what it’s all about.”

Play resumed Wednesday with two-time Grand Slam tournament winner Amelie Mauresmo being ousted in the second round by Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-4, 6-0. Tenth-seeded Flavia Pennetta defeated Sania Mirza 6-0, 6-0, and 18th-seeded Li Na of China beat Portugal’s up-and-coming 16-year-old star Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-1, 6-3.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Venus and Serena Williams were all scheduled to play later.

Mauresmo became the second Grand Slam tournament winner to exit from the women’s side, joining 11th-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who fell on Tuesday, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) to Kateryna Bondarenko. The loss continued a surprising free-fall that didn’t seem possible last year when she was the French Open titleholder and ranked first in the world.

“It hurts, I can tell you that,” Ivanovic said. “I’m sure I’ll have sleepless nights. But I have to accept it and try to put this year behind me, and try to learn from it.”

Seeded winners on Tuesday included 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, past runners-up Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic, No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 13 Nadia Petrova.

Men’s winners included 2008 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and that tournament’s runner-up, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, along with No. 10 Fernando Verdasco, No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 16 Marin Cilic, No. 17 Tomas Berdych and No. 22 Sam Querrey of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Nobody, however, felt like a bigger winner than Dent, who rose as high as 21st in the rankings, back in 2005, and was viewed as one of America’s next stars.

By 2006, with his back in shambles and surgery unavoidable, it seemed certain he’d never enjoy a day like this again.

“But I can’t get wrapped up in it too much,” Dent said. “I have a second-round match coming up. I don’t want to just win one round here. I’d like to win a few.”

(This version CORRECTS player’s name to Li Na sted Na Li.)