By Mike Burnett BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Sharapova made light work of her opening opponent

Maria Sharapova eased her way into Wimbledon with a clinical win over Israeli Anna Smashnova in the first round on Wednesday.

Russian Sharapova, 19, took just 54 minutes to dispose of Smashnova 6-2 6-0 on Court One.

The 2004 champion dominated from the outset, taking a 5-2 lead before winning the next seven consecutive games to seal the match.

She next faces either American Ashley Harkleroad or Croatian Jelena Kostanic.

Fourth seed Sharapova, who could face a semi-final match-up with Venus Williams, lived up to a fearsome reputation with an exemplary display against an opponent 10 years older.

Although some predicted Smashnova might put up more of a fight, the Israeli could find no way past Sharapova and slumped to her 10th first-round exit in 12 Wimbledon appearances.

"She's not the best grasscourt player," Sharapova said of her opponent. "I had to go for my shots and hit them, and then try to come in and put pressure on her. "From the beginning of the match I broke her and that was the set and the match."

Sharapova reached the semi-finals last year after winning the tournament at the tender age of just 17 in 2004 and remains confident that her form on grass has improved.

"I'm always excited about playing on grass," she added. "I'm trying to take my chances and play my shots earlier."