Maria Sharapova eased into the second round of the Australian Open with a comfortable win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Tuesday. She could find things less comfortable in her next match.
If the forecast of four consecutive days of 104-plus temperatures in Melbourne proves correct, it will be the worst heat wave in the city in more than a century. The forecast is for 111 on Thursday.
MORE: Heat is the story at Melbourne | Novak Djokovic marches on
That will make conditions brutal for Maria Sharapova, who opens play on the center court on Day 4 of the season's first major, and top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who has a late afternoon match.
Nadal, No. 1 seed in the men's draw, faces unseeded Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. Also playing Thursday: Americans Sloane Stephens and Jack Sock, and Serena and Venus Williams in doubles.
Having missed the 2013 U.S. Open because of a shoulder injury, Sharapova was quick to voice her delight at the win.
"I was really hoping to start well against a really tough opponent," she said.
"I'm happy to get through the first round which is always challenging.
"I've had some tough games against her in the past and she has made it hard for other players so this was always going to be a tricky first round."Here is Thursday's schedule. All times ET; play begins at on all courts at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Rod Laver Arena
Karin Knapp, Italy, vs. Maria Sharapova (3), Russia
Christina McHale, United States, vs. Caroline Wozniacki (10), Denmark
Not before 10 p.m. Wednesday: Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis, Australia
Night session (3 a.m. Thursday)
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Czech Republic, vs. Victoria Azarenka (2), Belarus
Andy Murray (4), Britain, vs. Vincent Millot, France
Hisense Arena
Olivia Rogowska, Australia, vs. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10), France, vs. Thomaz Bellucci, Brazil
Agnieszka Radwanska (5), Poland, vs. Olga Govortsova, Belarus
Not before 1 a.m. Thursday: Blaz Kavcic, Slovenia, vs. Roger Federer (6), Switzerland
Margaret Court Arena
Alize Cornet (25), France, vs. Camila Giorgi, Italy
Sloane Stephens (13), United States, vs. Ajla Tomljanovic, Croatia
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, and Sam Stosur, Australia, vs. Irina Buryachok, Ukraine, and Oksana Kalashnikova, Georgia
Jack Sock, United States, vs. Gael Monfils (25), France
Night session (3 a.m. Thursday)
Benoit Paire (27), France, vs. Nick Kyrgios, Australia
Show Court 2
Carla Suarez Navarro (16), Spain, vs. Galina Voskoboeva, Kazakhstan
Serena and Venus Williams, United States, vs. Kristina Mladenovic, France, and Flavia Pennetta (12), Italy
Marin Cilic, Croatia, vs. Gilles Simon (18), France
Not before 2 a.m. Thursday: Roberto Bautista Agut, Spain, vs. Juan Martin del Potro (5), Argentina
Show Court 3
Andreas Seppi (24), Italy, vs. Donald Young, United States
Fernando Verdasco (31), Spain, vs. Teymuraz Gabashvili, Russia
Jelena Jankovic (8), Serbia, vs. Ayumi Morita, Japan
Kurumi Nara, Japan, vs. Magdalena Rybarikova (32), Slovakia
Contributing: OmniSport, Associated Press