Sharapova keen to continue claycourt form at Charleston

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By Gene Sapakoff

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova arrived at the Family Circle Cup on Monday hoping to continue her successful start to the claycourt season.

The Russian world number four captured her first claycourt title when she defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the final of the Amelia Island Championships on Sunday.

"It's exciting that I could start the claycourt season a little earlier than I have and be in a much better position than I was last year," Sharapova told reporters on Monday.

"It's always good to get a title under your belt and have on your resume. It's a good feeling and hopefully I'll improve here."

Sharapova, seeded number two at Charleston, will face either American wildcard Bethanie Mattek or Meng Yuan of China in the second round.

Ninth seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia easily defeated qualifier Chuang Chia-jung of Taiwan 6-2 6-2 in the first round on Monday.

Tenth seeded Hungarian Agnes Szavay and 12th seed Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia also advanced. Szavay got past Ukraine's Yuliana Fedak 6-0 7-6 and Srebotnik beat Swiss teenager Timea Bacsinszky 7-6 6-3.

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