Sharapova weathers storm at sunny Open

NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova survived an early scare at the US Open Monday after Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova had been knocked out of the year's final grand slam, which began on time and in perfect conditions after a week of wild weather in New York.

It was business as usual at the National Tennis Center in Queens as the earthquake that rattled the U.S. East Coast last week and the deadly hurricane that killed at least 21 people were momentarily forgotten.

"On Tuesday we had an earthquake. Who knew we lived near a fault? Luckily it wasn't a double fault," New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg quipped.

In Image: Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts after playing Heather Watson of Britain during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011.

Text: Reuters

Images: AP

Full Coverage: US Open 2011