TENNIS: Like our expensively made-up Taoiseach, so too has Maria Sharapova annexed a royal title. Far from the Queen of Drumcondra, the world number four walked on to Court Philippe Chatrier yesterday with a swagger.

Amelie Mauresmo, the darling of France, is the world number one and brings the form to Roland Garros, but Sharapova has assumed the role of the game's blue blood since the Williams sisters went off multi-tasking. Venus is here, but younger sibling Serena is not, and Nature abhors a vacuum.

But for a collapse by her opponent, Mashona Washington of the US, yesterday, Sharapova may not have been around to try to fill the void. While Mauresmo won her match 6-4, 6-4 against American Meghann Shaughnessy, Sharapova struggled with movement and shot placement to cling on to her place in the competition 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

Mauresmo always had the better claims on travelling into next week. Sharapova started the season well before falling victim to injury, while Mauresmo graces the Parisian courts after a breakthrough Grand Slam singles title in Australia and a return to the world number one ranking.

Those who have watched Mauresmo over the years may consider this elevation more of a burden than a godsend. While her physique is robust and athletic, she has acquired some diva tendencies under home pressure. Still, she advanced, while Sharapova, six inches taller and over $6 million richer, was almost bundled out.

The question was whether she would physically last against the right-handed Washington. The Russian teenager recently withdrew from in Rome and Istanbul with an injury to her right foot and there was talk she might not step on court.

But Sharapova made a grand entrance and promptly won the first set 6-2, before a rapid descent. When Washington, who has never gone further than the third round of a Grand Slam in 13 attempts, pulled back level at a set apiece, Sharapova called for the trainer.

Sharapova, critically, dropped serve to chase 4-2 in the third set. Given her foot problem and Washington's hardening confidence, the match was taking the sort of pear-shaped outline few had envisaged. Washington served for 5-2, then squandered a match point on Sharapova's serve. Her second match point on her own serve at 5-3 was hit long, and a third passed as the Russian hung tough for 5-4.

Then in a matter of minutes Sharapova was serving for the match. Washington's nerve failed. Just one match point was enough and the American hit long for 7-5.

The regime, on day one, stays in place but the stress showed as Sharapova beat her breast and sighed with relief at her father, Yuri, in the stands. The tiara was askew but, critically, remained on her head.