Wimbledon 2012: Maria Sharapova v Anastasia Rodionova - live!,tennis today news

First set: *Sharapova 5-1 Rodionova
The stunned Centre Court crowd are trying their best to buoy up Rodionova. And it works. Rodionova gets to 40-30, her first game point, although two quick points later it's set point Sharapova. The Russian blinks, and it's deuce. Advantage Rodionova. Deuce.

Advantage Rodionova. Deuce. Advantage Sharapova. Deuce.

Advantage Rodionova. Deuce. Advantage Sharapova. Deuce. Advantage Rodionova. Game Rodionova! That probably took as long as the other five games combined.

First set: Sharapova 5-0 Rodionova*
Wait, Sharapova is human after all. The Russian sends a forehand long at 15-0, and lets up again at 40-15, but Rodionova then scoops a backhand long as Sharapova holds to 30. 5-0 in 14 minutes. Will I still get paid for this? "Motorbiking to work this morning, I spotted a hoarding of La Sharapova advertising Evian," chirps Gary Naylor. "Just for a moment, I thought it was her in person, but even she's not 12 foot tall is she? I live only a couple of miles or so from the AELTC, but I've never seen a player in Tooting during 27 Championships - I wonder why?" The way she's playing, Sharapova probably feels about 20 foot tall right now.

First set: *Sharapova 4-0 Rodionova
Sharapova takes the first point with a vicious forehand drive volley. Then it's a blistering backhand return winner. Rodionova rolls her eyes, and before she knows it it's 0-40, three break points. And she flunks a forehand into the net. There's the double break. This is brutal.

First set: Sharapova 3-0 Rodionova*
Um, I'm already running out of ways to say this. Sharapova is completely dominant and holds to love. She's conceded just the one point in six minutes. At this rate, the Centre Court patrons will be off having their tea and sandwiches quicker than you can say "double bagel".

First set: *Sharapova 2-0 Rodionova
Rodionova can't buy a point. 0-15, 0-30, 0-40, three break points. But look, Sharapova nets! 15-40. But Rodionova responds in kind, slapping a tame forehand into the net. Exasperated, the Australian raises her arms to the skies.

First set: Sharapova 1-0 Rodionova* (*denotes next server)
Sharapova opted not to play a warm-up tournament on grass following her French Open win, not that you'd know the way she starts here. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. In less than a minute. Though Rodionova helps by throwing in a mixture of unforced errors. Already she's struggling with the depth and power of Sharapova's shots.

It's sunny! Enjoy it while it lasts. According to the Wimbledon weather man it'll be raining by tomorrow.

Tok, tok, tok, they're on court and warming up. This is usually the time when I'd describe the players' garish outfits. But because it's Wimbledon, of course they're wearing white. Though Sharapova does have a flash of yellow on her straps. Rodionova won the toss and has chosen to receive.

Pre-match stat attack. We've got some new stats for you this year, courtesy of IBM. They've been looking at the keys to this match, which you can access via their SlamTracker.

Pre-match musings. Sharapova's thoughts on switching from the red clay of Roland Garros to the green grass of Wimbledon: "I think it's the toughest back-to-back grand slam-wise, without a doubt. Especially if you're coming off a French Open win, or a final, it's the toughest turnaround. As much as you want to celebrate and enjoy it, you come here and it's like a whole new ball game. But I think that's the beauty of tennis, there's so much out there to achieve. It always seems like it's back to back, so that's nothing really new."

Venus Williams is out. The five-times champion looked a shadow of her former self in a 6-1, 6-3 defeat to Elena Vesnina. Her last Wimbledon appearance? Possibly. Though she will be back for the Olympics later this summer. Xan has more in his blog.

Afternoon all. OK, OK, so England are out of Euro 2012. But there's a tennis tournament going on too, you know. And why dwell on another England quarter-final defeat on penalties, when you can look forward to another Andy Murray semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal?

But I'm getting ahead of myself. After Novak Djokovic's straightforward win over Juan Carlos Ferrero, it's now Maria Sharapova's turn to lay down a marker on the pristine Centre Court. Fresh from claiming a maiden French Open title, completing a career grand slam and regaining the world No1 ranking, Sharapova is looking to win Wimbledon for the first time since stunning Serena Williams in the 2004 final. Here's a reminder of that, in case you're feeling nostalgic.

Sharapova's victim opponent today is the world No133, Anastasia Rodionova. They're two of the 26 "ovas" in the women's draw, my programme notes reliably inform me. And this is an all-Russian clash of sorts; Rodionova was born and grew up in Russia, although she now represents Australia.

Sharapova hasn't lost a set in her four previous encounters against Rodionova, while Rodionova is 0-18 against top-10 ranked opponents. So a straight-sets win it is, then.