Maria Sharapova shows class with 6-3 6-1 win over Richel Hogenkamp

Maria Sharapova strolled into the third round of Wimbledon with a routine 6-3 6-1 win over outclassed debutant Richel Hogenkamp.

The 2004 champion was troubled by Hogenkamp for spells of the opening set but by the second she was in full control, battering her opponent into submission with a display that favoured strength over artistry.

Hogenkamp was cheered on by spectators on Court Two when she registered the match’s only ace, but the world number 123’s second Grand Slam appearance was quickly brought to a close.

Sharapova called on a full range of shots in the fifth game of the opening set, mixing baseline power with crafty play at the net, and in the sixth Hogenkamp was broken.

The Dutchwoman broke back immediately with Sharapova conceding the game after firing wide on a first service, but the fourth seed recovered immediately and went on to take the first set with ease.

Hogenkamp was bludgeoned into conceding on her serve as the second set got under way, and it was proving all too easy for Sharapova as she strolled into a 3-0 lead.

Apart from conceding the sixth, it was all one-way traffic with two thunderous forehands from the Russian finishing off her opponent.

Wimbledon witnessed its hottest day on record with the temperature climbing to 35.7 degrees, but Florida resident Sharapova was well prepared for the roasting conditions.

“It’s much warmer in my hometown of Long Boat Key. There was some cloud coverage here and I’ve trained quite long in the heat over there,” Sharapova said.

“It’s about the preparation in understanding it’s going to be warm and not going for it too much because you want to make the points quicker than normal because of the heat.

“You need to be a little bit smarter out there, that is the most important thing.”

Serena Williams set up a Wimbledon third-round tie against Britain’s Heather Watson after overcoming Timea Babos 6-4 6-1.

The five-time champion was tested in the opening set by the big-serving world number 93 from Hungary, but by the second she was in full control and emerged an emphatic winner on Centre Court.

Watson, the British number one, now awaits Williams as she seeks to add the Wimbledon crown to the Australian and French Open titles she has already claimed this year.

Babos trailed 2-0 in the blink of an eye and the early break conceded as she settled into the match was to prove costly, but she held her serve in the third to gain a foothold in the opening set.

Williams challenged a call when chasing the third of a hat-trick of aces in the sixth and while she was unsuccessful, a forehand smash and another ace enabled the American to take the game with ease.

Just as Babos appeared to have settled, showing poise to win the seventh, Williams responded by speeding through the next game with a series of unstoppable serves including one that clocked 121mph.

Babos was impressive her on her own serve and it was this resistance that ensured it took Williams 35 minutes to win the set.

A long, looping forehand saw Babos broken immediately when the second set began, but Williams had to survive two break points in the fourth, greeting her eventual success with a roar.

The end arrived for Babos in the seventh as a brutally methodical Williams closed out the game without dropping a point and marked her progression beyond the second round with a celebratory twirl.