Davenport comeback faces major test against Sharapova

The big-hitting new mum from California is to play fifth seed Maria Sharapova early in the preceedings at Melbourne Park because of the three-time Grand Slam champion Davenport's unseeded status.

 "This will be the first Grand Slam winner I've played since being back," said Davenport, 31, who has won three trophies from four events since she reversed her decision to retire just weeks after giving birth in June.

 "And she's a great player," Davenport said of the Russian who won 2004 Wimbledon and 2006 US Open titles.

 "She is one of the few players I don't have a winning record against probably in the draw," said the American of her 1-4 record against Sharapova. "She's a great player. We play very similar styles. She's outplayed me the last couple times we played."

   Sharapova won their last two meetings at the year-end 2005 championships in Los Angeles and the Dubai semi-finals in 2006.

 "I'm gonna have to definitely hit the ball well, just basically do everything a lot cleaner," Davenport said after advancing Monday in the first round.

 Sharapova is equally excited by the showdown among players more likely to meet in the closing stages of a major. With Davenport ranked 51st and climbing, the meeting will be a test for the Florida-based Russian as well as her comeback-bound opponent.

 "Lindsay's a big hitter, has a big serve," said Sharapova, the losing finalist at Melbourne last year to Serena Williams. "It's going to be very important to serve well and return well and hopefully get a good hit on the first ball.

 Sharapova said that past results might count for little. "This is a completely different match. We haven't played in a while. It's going to be a new match.

 "We have pretty similar styles of game. We're base-line players. We like to take advantage from the first ball. We like to get a good hit."

   Davenport has been travelling the WTA with 7-month-old son, Jagger, in tow, assisted by a nanny, her own mother and her husband on occasion.

 "It's obviously very difficult to have a baby and be back so soon," an admiring Sharapova said. "Her love and passion for the sport is pretty great.

 "It's wonderful to see someone who has already accomplished so much still going back and giving it all she has."