Top seed Russian Maria Sharapova struggled to keep cool before finally taming France's Camille Pin 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 in just under three hours.
Sharapova, who let a 5-0 lead in the final set slip through her fingers, came within two points of becoming the first women's top seed to slink out of the tournament in the opening round since Romania's Virginia Ruzici in 1979.
"It was one of my toughest matches and not one of my best matches but I can only get better from here," Sharapova said.
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