Maria Sharapova Advances At Australian Open, Earns 600th Career Win

Maria Sharapova Advances At Australian Open, Earns 600th Career Win

Almost 14 years after she won her very first professional tennis match, Maria Sharapova earned her 600th victory at the Australian Open on Friday.

Sharapova faced off against American Lauren Davis, and overcame a challenge in the second set, which lasted over an hour, and a string of errors to win 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-0 and advance to the fourth round.

The Russian was asked following the match about her milestone victory, but seemed completely unaware of her accomplishment. “Oh wow, I’ve won 600 matches?” she asked, then joking: “Is this a friendly reminder I’m getting older?”

“I think it’s a proud number,” she then added. Sharapova is now the 17th woman to have reached the 600-win mark.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova will next play rising Swiss teenager No. 12 Belinda Bencic, who beat 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 against Kateryna Bondarenko.

Fellow tennis superstar Roger Federer also reached a milestone during the tournament, earning his 300th win after moving into the fourth round at Rod Laver Arena on Friday. He won against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. 

Caption: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 22: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a backhand in her third round match against Lauren Davis of the United States during day five of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)