Maria Sharapova was taken to three sets by her American opponent Lauren Davis in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.

The 2008 champion was tested by the 22-year-old but she came through in a 6-1 6-7(5) 6-0 win.

The first set was fairly routine for Sharapova as she broke twice before taking the lead on the hard court, but it was a trickier affair in the second.

After Davis lost serve in the third game, she immediately broke back to draw level on 2-2 before breaking again to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Sharapova responded with a break of her own but from then, neither player could be separated and a tie-break ensued.

It was Davis who came out on top as she won the breaker 7-5, but she struggled to keep the momentum as she crumbled in the third set.

The American did not win a single game in the decider and Sharapova wrapped up the set in just 31 minutes.